DOGE announced that an audit at the Department of Labor uncovered a misallocation of software licenses, including hundreds of unused Microsoft 365, VSCode, and Photoshop licenses. Additionally, the audit found cybersecurity licenses exceeding the department's headcount. This information was shared in a post on X on February 25.
According to DOGE, government agencies frequently purchase more software licenses than they have employees, resulting in significant waste. The audit on the Department of Labor identified 380 unused Microsoft 365 licenses and five cybersecurity licenses covering over 100,000 seats, despite the agency having fewer than 15,000 employees.
DOGE's findings are consistent with trends observed at other agencies. For instance, the General Services Administration had 37,000 WinZip licenses for 13,000 employees and 19,000 training software subscriptions across multiple platforms. It also had 7,500 project management software seats for a division with only 5,500 personnel and three separate ticketing systems running in parallel—many of which were paid for but never installed.
Screenshot of Post on X
| https://x.com/DOGE
DOGE is a federal agency focused on optimizing government spending by reducing waste and ensuring accountability in contract management. By reviewing expenditures and canceling non-essential contracts, DOGE aims to improve fiscal responsibility and enhance the effectiveness of public resource allocation.
