GAO finds Department of Government Efficiency's $110 billion savings claim flawed

The U.S. Government Accountability Office reported Thursday that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) overstated its claimed $110 billion in savings from contract, grant and lease terminations. The review covered 264 leases and a similar number of contracts reported between Jan. 20, 2025 and July 7. It found that 108 leases were already slated for termination before DOGE was created, inflating lease savings by more than $80 million. More than half of the contracts listed could not be confirmed as terminated, and the agency could not verify the methodology behind 96 % of reported grant savings.

"Everyone supports rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government, but DOGE was a slapdash and deceptive effort that misled the American people while doing real damage to the government’s ability to serve them," said Sen. Gary Peters.

DOGE officials did not respond to GAO inquiries, and the initiative, which was set to end last month, continues to have staff embedded in various agencies. The GAO report was requested by Democratic senators seeking greater transparency on federal spending reductions.