Musk Promised $2T in Cuts. How Much Did DOGE Actually Save?
By The Wall Street Journal
Elon Musk is officially done with DOGE and is no longer a special government employee. The Department of Government Efficiency has laid off thousands of federal workers, claims to have cancelled more than 10,000 contracts and has dismantled entire agencies. But have the DOGE cuts lived up to Musk’s promises?
WSJ analyzes what DOGE and Musk have actually accomplished and what’s next for the agency after Musk’s departure.
Chapters:
0:00 Musk done at DOGE
0:59 What DOGE has actually saved
2:49 Federal worker job cuts
4:44 Implementing DOGE cuts in the federal budget
6:43 What’s next for DOGE cuts and federal workers?
Here’s what others had to say:
@willpickering5829
The funny thing is that Doge inadvertently convinced me that the federal government was actually more efficient than I previously believed.
@brownbanana18
DOGE literally made the government more inefficient and likely costs the U.S. more in the long run by far, than the claimed savings.
@Peteruspl
Delivering 5-10% of promises would be exactly on record for Musk.
@Stormy_2025
He’s not some Tony Stark-level genius. He’s an opportunist with a talent for manipulating perception. A hype man in a billionaire’s costume. And the sooner his fanboys realise this, the better.
@SonjaMorrison-i7j
DOGE has done more damage than good. In addition to the deaths it has left behind, it will take decades to heal this horror.
@jeffzenick4795
What was left out in this report was how condescending and disrespectful Musk’s attitude was toward the Federal work force.
@stairmand
The joy a billionaire takes from hardworking people being made unemployed is sickening. He’s a truly nasty piece of work.
@mstreich
He wasn’t there to save the country money. He was there to dismantle any accountability for himself. Mission Accomplished!
@AXJK946
Why didn’t Elon volunteer to stop seeking and accepting government grants for his companies? That could have immediately cut a significant amount government deficit and demonstrated genuine leadership.
@EmperorDraconianIV
This is my frustration with Republicans. You have over 1 trillion dollars spent on defense that can be reduced but because of their Thatcherian conservatism they decide to layoff employees instead.
@sokarash
Musk “leaving” won’t change anything. With massive damage already done and his goons place, there is no need for him to stick around and for once obey the law.
@journey_seeker
Instead of firing federal employee, they probably gonna save lot more if they reduce the military spending and aid to Israel.
@bssw218
The question is how much did DOGE cost the US taxpayer? Most of the “work” done will be undone and all this will have just cost more money in the end.
@b.l.8611
Fired federal workers that were highly skilled. We are now in a situation that it will takes decades to find qualified people for those positions. Institutional knowledge flying out the door is NOT GOOD!
@RandomBelgianHombre
He was there to remove competence from the system that would slow or block the MAGA and project 2025 agenda. Now, there’s room to install MAGA straw men in key positions.
@SusanMcLean-cq1xl
What difference does it make? it’s all going into the billionaires pockets, Not lowering the deficit. On the contrary it raises it 4 trillion. How does that make sense?
@racksofish
Don’t let the door hit you on the way out he was supposed to cut “waste fraud and abuse” but the government spending is up more than 6% and we are all still struggling affording bills.
@kjmav10135
So, this is MAGA math, and none of these people are at all smart. By my rough calculations, Elon says he saved me $1,000. However, the tariffs are costing me around $4,000 a year, and I hear my federal taxes are going up? So, net loss of at least $3,000 per year. And the deficit is going up? And they need to raise the debt ceiling? But Elon will do great with his contracts and his tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars of tax savings so, bully for him.
@Cahine125
This was literally just for Elon to cut all regulations on his companies and give himself more government contracts.
@robwyyi
Fraction of what was said. Truth is most of the firing was functioning and necessary position. Which means we’re going need the position back to become functional. Costing even more than what was saved by hiring back.
@carolbenjamin1210
The American people also deserve to know the amount of $ that has and continues to be spent on salaries for Vought, Musk, et al.
@SM-px8cc
People who have interacted with government agencies have always known and seen, that if anything is being wasted or abused it’s at the very top as those workers truly work understaffed and with so much case load. they’re the unsung members of our government and they were shown the door like they were nobodies.
Original source: https://youtu.be/8yRmHoCtTg8?si=-8wLBNw7Xm56BYXd
