Key Takeaways:
- Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has drastically reduced its government savings promise from $1 trillion to $150 billion.
- Analysts and experts question whether even $150 billion is achievable, calling some of DOGE’s savings claims exaggerated or fake.
- Conservatives and libertarians, once excited about Musk’s cost-cutting goals, are now skeptical of his methods.
- DOGE has been accused of inflating its progress by including errors, future spending guesses, and even claiming savings from canceled contracts that didn’t exist.
The $1 Trillion Promise That Shrunk to $150 Billion
When Elon Musk announced his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), he promised to save the U.S. government a whopping $1 trillion. It was a bold claim that excited many conservatives and libertarians who wanted to cut government spending. But now, Musk admits the actual savings will be much smaller—closer to $150 billion. That’s a whopping 85% reduction from his original promise.
This drastic cut has left many of Musk’s supporters losing faith. A report from the New York Times suggests that even the $150 billion figure might be overstated. According to the report, DOGE’s savings claims are often based on errors, future spending guesses, and sometimes even fictional numbers.
Overstated Savings and Questionable Claims
Experts are calling out DOGE for inflating its success. When the department calculates its savings, it includes things like “billion-dollar errors” and spending that might not even happen. For example, DOGE claims to have saved money by canceling a contract, but the contract didn’t actually exist in the first place.
Romina Boccia of the libertarian Cato Institute criticized DOGE, saying, “They’re just spinning their wheels, citing in many cases overstated or fake savings. What’s most frustrating is that we agree with their goals. But we’re watching them flail at achieving them.”
Nat Malkus of the American Enterprise Institute compared DOGE’s logic to a parent claiming to save money on medical school after their kid drops out of college. “It doesn’t make any sense,” he said.
The $318 Million Contract That Didn’t Exist
One surprising example of DOGE’s questionable claims involves a contract cancellation. The department announced it had saved $318,310,328 by canceling a contract. But when asked for details, the Office of Personnel Management refused to provide any information about the contract, including what it was for or when it was supposed to be awarded.
Steven L. Schooner, a professor who studies federal contracting, called the claim “garbage.” He explained that it’s impossible to know what the government would have spent because the contract never existed in the first place. “What if the bidders competed to drive the price lower? What if a losing bidder protested, and then the whole thing got canceled?” Schooner asked.
This incident has raised serious doubts about the credibility of DOGE’s savings claims.
Why Critics Are Losing Faith
While many people support Musk’s goal of cutting government waste, his methods have been called into question. By inflating savings numbers and making baseless claims, DOGE risks losing the trust of even its biggest fans.
As one expert put it, “It’s like pretending you’re saving money by skipping something that was never going to happen in the first place.”
For now, it’s unclear whether DOGE can turn things around and deliver real savings. But one thing is certain: overpromising and underdelivering is a recipe for failure.
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