Federal auditors have found that some savings claimed by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are either inaccurate or lack sufficient evidence, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The findings follow a request from lawmakers to evaluate the accuracy of savings estimates posted by DOGE on its "Wall of Receipts" website.
The GAO report identified issues with 108 of 264 leases DOGE listed for termination, noting that these leases were already in the process of being terminated before DOGE was established. In another instance, DOGE reported $1.7 billion in savings on a Department of Defense IT services contract, but no action was ultimately taken to terminate the contract, meaning no savings were realized.
Auditors also criticized DOGE for a lack of transparency regarding its savings calculation methods. The GAO stated that DOGE officials did not respond to requests for information, and the report concluded that the data quality issues limit the website's value for policymakers. The report further cautioned that unreliable government data can erode public trust.
DOGE began publishing its estimated savings on February 17, 2025. As of July 7, it had reported a total of $110 billion in savings across various contracts, grants, and leases. The agency's operations, established by an executive order from President Donald Trump, concluded on July 4. Musk, who initially led DOGE, stepped back from the role after a few months.
Democratic Sens. Gary Peters of Michigan and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut initiated the GAO review. Senator Peters stated that while rooting out waste is a shared goal, DOGE was a "slapdash and deceptive effort" that harmed the government's ability to serve the public. He added that Musk and the Trump administration claimed unsubstantiated billions in savings, took credit for ongoing work, and refused to disclose their methods, all while potentially endangering sensitive data and weakening critical agencies.