GAO Report Finds DOGE Overstated Federal Savings Claims

The Government Accountability Office released a report on Thursday stating that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) repeatedly overstated federal savings and lacked supporting evidence for its claims. The audit, requested by Senators Gary Peters and Richard Blumenthal, examined $110 billion in savings listed on the agency's Wall of Receipts database.

Investigators found that over 2,500 contracts totaling $27.4 billion in claimed savings were never terminated. Additionally, 108 of 264 leases cited for termination were already being processed before DOGE was established in January 2025. The GAO further noted that it could not verify the methodology for 96% of claimed grant savings and that the agency failed to use its own stated methodology for most contract savings.

Established by President Donald Trump and initially led by Elon Musk, DOGE shut down in July 2026 following a period of mass federal layoffs and agency dismantlements. The GAO characterized the initiative's data as lacking transparency and noted that the agency did not respond to audit inquiries.