(C) BoingBoing
This story was originally published by BoingBoing and is unaltered.
 . . . . . . . . . .



Musk promised $2 trillion in cuts; spending went up [1]

['Ellsworth Toohey']

Date: 2025-12-23  

Elon Musk promised DOGE would cut "at least" $2 trillion from federal spending. By the first cabinet meeting, that number dropped to $1 trillion. Now, according to a New York Times analysis, the actual savings are far smaller — and many of DOGE's biggest claimed wins don't exist at all.

Federal spending didn't go down on DOGE's watch. It went up.

The Times found that many of DOGE's largest claimed savings were wrong. The group listed certain contracts as "terminations" and claimed their demise saved taxpayers $7.9 billion. Those contracts are still alive. The savings were an accounting mirage. Together, the two false entries were bigger than 25,000 of DOGE's other claims combined. Of the 40 biggest claims on DOGE's list, only 12 appeared accurate.

Musk had promised DOGE would be "the most transparent organization in government ever." Instead, the group became opaque, its lack of progress obscured by errors, redactions, and indecipherable accounting.

The human cost was substantial. DOGE cuts gutted agencies, terminated workers, and disrupted services across the government. One independent analysis estimated the cuts will ultimately cost taxpayers $135 billion. Another government entity put the losses at $21.7 billion.

In December, Musk sat down for a podcast and called DOGE's work "a little bit successful" but said he wouldn't do it again if given the chance. He left his role with DOGE back in May after legal setbacks and clashes with Trump's cabinet.

Previously:

• 'Be kind' desk sign deemed contraband by Musk's DOGE enforcers

• Musk Watch tracker reveals DOGE savings overstated by 92%

• Vivek Ramaswamy out at 'DOGE'

• Musk's DOGE boy reportedly screams at senior staffers trying to protect personal data: 'Idiots!'

• Tech founder writes about being fired from Trump's DOGE after 55 days

• DOGE upending child safety and human trafficking programs

• 21 DOGE staffers ditch Elon Musk in mass resignation

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://boingboing.net/2025/12/23/musk-promised-2-trillion-in-cuts-spending-went-up.html

Published and (C) by BoingBoing
Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/boingboing/