In its debut month of February 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) canceled over 680 contracts, resulting in at least $560 million in direct spending reductions.
Since its creation by executive order on President Donald Trump’s inauguration day, DOGE—overseen by Senior Advisor Elon Musk—has been focused on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government.
By the end of February, DOGE’s broader cost-cutting initiatives had saved taxpayers over $1 billion, combining contract cancellations with other efficiency measures.
These additional savings came from eliminating redundant software subscriptions, shutting down unused call centers, and selling off excess federal vehicles—actions that contributed to hundreds of millions in additional taxpayer savings during Trump’s first full month in office.
DOGE has announced a series of measures aimed at reducing waste and improving federal operations. The actions include significant contract cancellations, asset sales and a revamp of government policies.
One of the department’s most notable moves was the appointment of Joe Gebbia, co-founder of Airbnb, to modernize the federal retirement process. Gebbia’s focus is on transitioning from outdated paper-based systems to more efficient digital solutions.
DOGE also took aggressive steps to cut waste by terminating numerous contracts deemed unnecessary.
On Feb. 14, 586 contracts were canceled, saving $445 million, followed by another 95 cancellations on February 21, which saved an additional $115 million.
The General Services Administration (GSA) furthered the efficiency drive by selling the long-vacant Webster School building in Washington, D.C., for $4.1 million. This sale eliminated $24 million in deferred maintenance costs.
In a broader policy reform effort, the GSA implemented Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) deviations to comply with executive orders focused on ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunities.
Additionally, the GSA eliminated the mandatory use of paper straws in federal procurement processes.
Public participation was also encouraged through an initiative allowing citizens to report inefficiencies. This led to the termination of a wasteful building services contract, saving an estimated $40 million.
Despite these successes, 85 lawsuits have been filed challenging the efforts of DOGE to reduce the size of the federal government, including attempts to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and cut diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Investigations within federal agencies uncovered the misuse of funds in the Department of Defense and concerns over sensitive taxpayer data access within the Internal Revenue Service.
Additionally, funding cuts were implemented at the National Institutes of Health, and mass layoffs affected several other agencies. Among the most significant actions taken were the cancellation of several costly programs and the elimination of unnecessary services.
The department axed a $6.5 million "Resilient Office Spaces" study, which had been funded for years but produced minimal actionable insights.
DOGE also shut down 12 federally funded call centers that had little to no call volume, saving an estimated $22 million annually.
Additionally, the department consolidated redundant cloud storage services across multiple agencies, stopping $18 million in unnecessary spending and reducing overall IT costs.
Another notable move included the sale of over 400 underused federal vehicles, including SUVs and sedans, which were either sold off or reassigned to other departments, reducing maintenance and leasing costs.
DOGE also halted a $12 million "Sustainable Office Chair" pilot program after costs soared and prototypes failed to meet expectations.
In a broader move to streamline operations, DOGE cut more than 3,000 consultant positions with vague or unclear roles, such as "strategic synergy expert" and "equity framework advisor." All cuts are posted to the DOGE website at doge.gov.