Spending Rose Under Trump–Musk DOGE Despite Sweeping Cuts, New Analysis Finds

A New York Times review using Treasury data concludes many touted savings were wrong or relied on accounting maneuvers rather than real reductions.

Overview

DOGE promised $1 trillion in savings and claimed more than 29,000 cuts across government, but it did not deliver on the savings pledge, according to the Times report.
Treasury data cited by the Times show overall federal outlays increased during DOGE’s tenure rather than declined.
The Times found the top 13 claimed contract terminations were incorrect and identified errors including double‑counting, credit for expirations or earlier cancellations, and changes to contract ceiling values that did not affect actual spending.
Of DOGE’s 40 largest savings claims, only 12 appeared to reflect real reductions, and the initiative largely avoided the biggest drivers of federal spending such as Medicare, Social Security, and interest on the debt.
Separately, Democrats.org alleges $21.7 billion in waste, widespread rehiring, severe USAID and VA impacts, and an error‑prone AI tool canceling contracts, though these assertions come from a partisan source.