DOGE's 'Wall of Receipts' doesn't add up, government auditors say

The savings claimed by the erstwhile Department of Government Efficiency don't adhd up, a authorities watchdog said Thursday.

In a caller report, the Government Accountability Office, an independent legislature watchdog, said it audited the savings DOGE published connected its "Wall of Receipts," an online database showing really overmuch money DOGE says it saved.

The "Wall of Receipts" says DOGE saved an estimated $110 cardinal crossed the national authorities by slashing contracts, leases, and grants.

The Government Accountability Office, however, recovered that immoderate of those savings estimates were "incorrect aliases deficiency supporting evidence." It said, for instance, that it recovered much than 2,500 contracts listed arsenic terminated, totaling $27.4 cardinal successful savings, that had not really been terminated.

The auditor said it besides couldn't verify the methodology down 96% of DOGE's claimed assistance savings.

"While DOGE provided immoderate accusation astir estimated savings, respective issues limit the transparency and reliability of these reported savings," the Government Accountability Office said successful its report.

DOGE launched its "Wall of Receipts" successful February 2025, little than a period aft President Donald Trump established the cost-cutting agency done an executive order.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk became the look of DOGE during its initial, and yet temporary, run. He officially stepped back from the inaugural successful April 2025. DOGE afloat unopen down successful July. The agency spearheaded the layoffs of thousands of national employees, efficaciously shuttering full departments.

Questions astir really overmuch DOGE really saved the national authorities came soon aft it began its work. Last February, DOGE's "Wall of Receipts" said it had saved astir $16.5 billion. It past lowered that estimate to $7.2 cardinal 2 days later. DOGE slashed different $4 billion from its estimated savings the pursuing month.

According to the Government Accountability Office report, it's difficult to afloat audit the savings because DOGE wasn't transparent astir the methodologies it utilized to cipher them.

"Specifically, DOGE did not usage its stated methodology to cipher the mostly of savings associated pinch the contracts reported arsenic terminated," the agency said.

The Government Accountability Office besides said the "Wall of Receipts" included leases identified for termination earlier DOGE was formally established successful January 2025.

"108 of the 264 leases identified for termination connected the Wall of Receipts, astir $15.3 cardinal of the full $53.5 cardinal successful savings, were already successful process for termination erstwhile DOGE was established," the auditor said.

The Government Accountability Office said the information value issues should beryllium "prominently displayed" connected the "Wall of Receipts." A Government Accountability Office spokesperson told Business Insider that neither DOGE nor the White House has responded to its study yet.