Elon Musk’s DOGE explained: What is it, how much money DOGE has saved, government agencies targeted by DOGE, and more

In a sweeping effort to overhaul government spending and increase efficiency, U.S. President Donald Trump has granted tech billionaire Elon Musk a leading role in restructuring federal operations through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). During his upcoming address to Congress, Trump is expected to highlight DOGE’s impact, particularly the massive cost-cutting measures it has implemented across various government agencies.
DOGE, created by an executive order signed by Trump on his first day in office, has been given unprecedented power to streamline federal operations. In just a few weeks, the unit has initiated mass layoffs, shut down government agencies, and altered long-standing bureaucratic structures. While the administration claims DOGE has already saved over $100 billion in taxpayer money, critics argue that its methods lack transparency and could present conflicts of interest, given Musk’s extensive business holdings in companies like Tesla, SpaceX, and social media platform X.
As the program faces mounting scrutiny from lawmakers, unions, and government employees, many questions remain about its long-term impact, accountability, and the accuracy of its reported savings.

DOGE, short for the Department of Government Efficiency, was established through an executive order signed by President Trump on January 20. Its stated purpose is to modernize federal technology, enhance efficiency, and reduce government waste. However, despite its name, DOGE is not an official government department approved by Congress. Instead, it operates as a temporary task force under the White House, replacing the pre-existing U.S. Digital Service.
Unlike traditional government agencies, DOGE is not directly accountable to Congress. It reports solely to the president and has rapidly expanded its mandate beyond software modernization to broader cost-cutting initiatives. This includes identifying redundancies in government agencies, reducing the federal workforce, and eliminating programs deemed inefficient.
The team leading DOGE consists of approximately 40 individuals, many of whom are software engineers with ties to Musk’s companies. These individuals, most of whom have little experience in government administration, are tasked with restructuring entire federal departments.
Musk, who serves as a “special government employee,” does not receive a salary for his role in DOGE. However, his level of involvement remains ambiguous, with the White House providing few details about his official responsibilities. In response to legal challenges, the administration recently named Amy Gleason, a former healthcare executive, as DOGE’s acting administrator.

According to its official website, DOGE has saved U.S. taxpayers $105 billion as of March 2. These savings reportedly stem from a combination of workforce reductions, asset sales, and the cancellation of federal contracts.
However, these figures have been met with skepticism due to errors and inconsistencies in DOGE’s reporting. The organization has already revised or deleted several major claims from its website. One such case involved an $8 billion contract that was later corrected to be worth only $8 million. Critics argue that without an independent audit or detailed financial breakdown, it is difficult to verify the accuracy of DOGE’s claimed savings.
Despite these concerns, Musk has defended the initiative, stating that DOGE is committed to correcting mistakes and refining its methods. He has set a long-term goal of identifying $1 trillion in government savings, a figure that represents a significant portion of the estimated $7 trillion federal budget for this year.

DOGE has already enacted sweeping changes across multiple government agencies, leading to significant job cuts and structural reorganizations. To date, the unit has:

Government unions have filed numerous lawsuits challenging these actions, with mixed results. Some courts have temporarily blocked DOGE from accessing sensitive government databases, while others have ruled that unions lack standing to challenge executive orders related to government restructuring.

DOGE’s cost-cutting measures have resulted in the shutdown of entire agencies and major restructuring efforts across various federal departments. Some of the most impacted organizations include:
1. U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)

2. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

3. NASA

4. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

5. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA)


While the Trump administration has touted DOGE as a revolutionary effort to eliminate government waste, critics have raised serious concerns regarding its execution and transparency.

Despite these challenges, Trump and Musk remain committed to DOGE’s long-term objectives. As the administration moves forward with further government restructuring, the future of the program will likely remain a focal point of political and legal debate in the coming months.