Key facts
- Government auditors found that the Department of Government Efficiency's claimed savings of $110 billion are inaccurate or lack evidence.
- The GAO stated that 96% of DOGE-reported grant savings were unverifiable.
- The GAO concluded that DOGE did not use its stated methodology to calculate most savings from contracts and exaggerated savings from terminated leases.
- DOGE claimed $215 billion in savings, with $110.3 billion related to contracts, grants, and leases examined by the GAO.
- The White House press office stated that all employees are required to complete ethics training and follow financial disclosure requirements.
Government auditors have questioned the accuracy of savings claims made by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), finding that a significant portion of reported savings lacks sufficient evidence or verification. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress's auditing arm, stated in a report that 96 percent of DOGE-reported grant savings were unverifiable, representing approximately $49.2 billion.
Beyond grants, the GAO concluded that DOGE did not consistently use its stated methodology to calculate savings from terminated contracts and exaggerated savings from leases. The GAO examined $110.3 billion in claimed savings related to contracts, grants, and leases. DOGE claimed a total of $215 billion in savings through various measures, though this figure fell short of Elon Musk's initial goal of $1 trillion.
Senators Gary Peters and Richard Blumenthal requested the GAO report, and Peters criticized the administration for claiming unsubstantiated savings and refusing to provide details. The GAO also noted that DOGE declined requests for interviews or clarification. In response to the GAO's findings, the White House press office stated that all employees are required to complete ethics training and follow financial disclosure requirements.
The GAO also issued a separate report on DOGE's personnel and ethics activities, noting that it could not determine all DOGE personnel who received training or completed financial disclosures due to a lack of access to records. The temporary DOGE service mandate expired on July 4, 2026, but the broader U.S. DOGE Service entity within the Executive Office of the President continues to exist.