GAO Report Questions DOGE's Claimed $215 Billion in Federal Savings

Overview of GAO Findings

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report indicating that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) could not substantiate most of its claimed $215 billion in federal savings. The GAO, which serves as the auditing and investigating arm of Congress, found significant issues with the transparency and reliability of DOGE's reported savings, particularly concerning its "Wall of Receipts."

The report was issued in response to a June 2025 request from Senators Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). It scrutinizes DOGE's claims of reducing federal spending through various measures, including cuts to contracts, grants, and leases.

Unverified Savings and Terminations

The GAO's analysis revealed that a substantial portion of DOGE's reported savings lacked sufficient verification. For instance, of the $49.2 billion DOGE claimed from cutting grants, almost none could be verified. The report specifically noted that the "Wall of Receipts" did not provide enough information to verify the calculation methods or the nature of savings for 13,553 of the 15,887 reported grant terminations, accounting for approximately 96% of the reported grant savings.

Regarding contracts, DOGE claimed to have terminated 13,476 contracts, but the GAO found that "no termination action" was taken on 2,503 of these. The GAO also concluded that DOGE did not use its stated methodology to calculate most of the savings from contracts it reported as terminated.

Discrepancies in Reported Figures

DOGE initially claimed $110 billion in savings from contracts, grants, and leases on its "Wall of Receipts" website. Including additional categories, DOGE tallied a total of $215 billion in cuts. The GAO's findings indicate that even the smaller $110 billion figure did not hold up under scrutiny, with multiple "issues limiting the transparency and reliability of these reported savings."

The report highlights that the claimed savings, such as $113 million from a specific contract, were often not supported by evidence or did not reflect actual terminations.

Implications for Government Accountability

The GAO's findings raise questions about the effectiveness and veracity of DOGE's efforts to reduce government spending. The lack of verifiable data and the discrepancies in reported terminations undermine claims of meaningful cuts in government spending. This situation points to a broader issue of transparency and accountability in government initiatives aimed at cost reduction.