The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been found to have inaccuracies in its reported savings claims, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released on August 6, 2026. The report confirmed earlier findings from CBS News and other outlets, indicating that DOGE overstated taxpayer savings by billions of dollars. Specifically, GAO noted that $110 billion in savings claimed by DOGE from federal contracts, leases, and grants included estimates that were incorrect or lacked supporting evidence.
For example, GAO reported that 108 of the 264 leases DOGE claimed to have terminated were already in the process of being eliminated prior to DOGE's establishment in January 2025. Additionally, DOGE reported a $1.7 billion savings from a Pentagon contract termination that was never executed. The GAO investigation, requested by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Gary Peters, examined contracts, grants, and leases from January 20, 2025, to July 7, 2026.
DOGE was launched by Elon Musk shortly after President Trump took office and was heavily influenced by him in its early months. The agency concluded its operations on July 4, 2026. The GAO criticized DOGE for a lack of transparency and failure to adhere to its own stated methodology in reporting savings. It recommended that DOGE provide clearer information regarding data quality and limitations affecting reported savings.
CBS News previously reported issues with DOGE's reporting, including the cessation of details on canceled U.S. Agency for International Development contracts due to legal reasons. The GAO noted that DOGE did not respond to requests for information or interviews.