DOGE Cuts Now into the Billions: White House

After a span of three weeks, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reportedly achieved over $1 billion in budget reductions, as indicated by figures released from the White House.

Significant savings identified by the White House are primarily attributed to the termination of more than 100 contracts associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. An executive order issued by former President Trump on his first day in office aimed to eliminate DEI efforts within the federal government. The White House estimates that these contract cancellations alone have resulted in savings exceeding $1 billion.

Additionally, DOGE has terminated a $748 million contract for the construction of a new embassy in South Sudan.

Other reductions include a $500,000 cut in subscriptions to the news organization Politico from NASA, as well as $26 million in contracts related to “executive coaching” and “strategic communication.”

On the evening of February 10, DOGE’s X account revealed nearly $1 billion in further cuts. These reductions include $101 million in DEI-related training grants from the Department of Education, a department that Trump has suggested might be eliminated, along with $881 million in other related contracts.

DOGE also made public the cancellation of $9 million in contracts with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which included programs such as the “Women in Forest Carbon Initiative Mentorship Program” and “Central American Gender Assessment Consultant Services.”

Representative Blake Moore (R-Utah), co-chair of the bipartisan House DOGE Caucus, remarked to The Epoch Times that DOGE is “making significant changes and certainly generating attention.”

Conversely, Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.) expressed to The Epoch Times that DOGE was established “to take from the poor to give to the rich,” adding, “I believe much of this is illegal.”
The DOGE Initiative
DOGE is a temporary organization repurposed from the United States Digital Services and located within the Executive Office of the President. Prior to the 2024 Election Day, Trump revealed his plans to establish DOGE, appointing tech entrepreneur Musk, who had become a significant campaign supporter, as its leader.

On the inaugural day of his administration, Trump signed the executive order that created DOGE. This order requires the formation of teams comprising at least four members in each agency, all operating under a provisional organization “dedicated to advancing the President’s 18-month DOGE agenda.”

The organization’s interactions with other executive branch agencies, such as the Department of Labor and the Treasury Department, have led to protests involving Democratic members from both the House and Senate, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
DOGE and its supporters have experienced both victories and defeats in the courts, where litigation concerning the commission and its personnel is on the rise.

On February 7, a federal judge in D.C., John Bates, ruled against limiting DOGE’s access to Department of Labor data following a lawsuit filed by several unions.

The following day, in a separate DOGE-related case, federal Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York issued a temporary restraining order that barred DOGE employees from accessing Treasury payment system data and mandated the destruction of any materials they may have acquired.

A hearing regarding this matter is set for February 14.

Musk utilized his social media platform, X, to advocate for the impeachment of the judge, labeling him as “a corrupt judge protecting corruption.”

The Department of Justice filed a motion on February 9 to lift the restraining order, contending that it could hinder Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s ability to access Treasury payment system data.

These legal challenges and strategic maneuvers are occurring amidst threats faced by Musk and DOGE’s engineers, including those made on social media.
A review conducted by The Epoch Times on the social media platform Bluesky revealed a multitude of posts that identified and, in several instances, threatened Elon Musk and the staff associated with DOGE. One anonymous individual labeled various DOGE engineers as “Nazi scum,” further stating, “The only good Nazi is a dead Nazi.”

Ed Martin, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, has committed to pursuing legal action against those who threaten or harm DOGE employees, asserting his determination to hold them accountable.

As Musk and his team navigate the backlash, economists expressing concern over the national debt and deficit have reacted to DOGE’s budget cuts with a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism.

Ryan Bourne, co-author of a report on DOGE for the libertarian Cato Institute, communicated to The Epoch Times via email that DOGE “could significantly alter the nature of the civil service and erode public trust in certain programs through a continuous stream of reports on wasteful expenditures.”

Conversely, Jessica Riedl from the Manhattan Institute remarked on X that DOGE’s assertions lack credibility, particularly in light of the extensive spending during Trump’s initial term and his reluctance to implement substantial cuts to social programs and the Pentagon—both major factors contributing to ongoing deficits.

“You must cease tax reductions and then tackle Social Security, Medicare, defense, and numerous other popular programs. Notify me when the GOP addresses these issues,” Riedl stated, adding, “Do not boast about your frugality while simultaneously purchasing a $250,000 Ferrari.”

DOGE’s latest focus includes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Pentagon. In a Fox News interview on February 9, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed his eagerness to collaborate with DOGE. Representative Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisc.), a retired Navy Seal, is overseeing the Veterans Affairs and Pentagon responsibilities for the House DOGE Caucus.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wisc.), a former Navy Seal, is overseeing the Veterans Affairs and Pentagon responsibilities for the House DOGE Caucus.

“I could very reasonably reduce expenditures by tens of billions of dollars while enhancing veterans’ experiences, healthcare outcomes, and educational benefits. The same approach can be applied to the Department of Defense—eliminating ineffective legacy programs will allow us to boost lethality and readiness,” he stated in an interview with The Epoch Times.

He refrained from commenting on whether this would result in a reduced overall budget for the Defense Department, a contentious issue for many congressional Republicans advocating for increased funding for the Pentagon.

Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.), another supporter of DOGE, indicated that the group’s focus on Medicare and Social Security is primarily aimed at identifying “improper payments.” He noted that Medicaid offers more immediate opportunities for reform.

“I believe there are ways to enhance the efficiency of these systems and achieve significant savings,” he remarked regarding the federal government’s extensive social programs.

“If we reach a point where we have addressed the more straightforward issues and still face challenges, then we can consider those at that time,” Burlison added.

John Cochrane, an economist at the Hoover Institution, commented in an analysis of Trump’s tax policy that the spending identified by DOGE “is a means to an end, not the end itself.”

“The United States does require substantial reform. However, this is not the appropriate moment. We should focus on the first year and aim to establish a record of success,” Cochrane expressed on his blog, The Grumpy Economist.

Bourne from the Cato Institute also views DOGE as a potential pathway to broader reforms.