President Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) slashed 312 wasteful federal contracts in just one week, saving American taxpayers $470 million as part of a massive government spending cleanup that has already returned over $1,100 to each taxpayer’s pocket.
Key Takeaways
- DOGE terminated 312 “wasteful contracts” worth $2.8 billion in potential spending, saving taxpayers $470 million in a single week
- Notable cuts include a $286,000 Department of Defense Harvard entrepreneurship course and a $485,000 USAID advisor position in Madagascar
- Total government spending savings have reached $180 billion as of June 3, equivalent to $1,118 per American taxpayer
- DOGE has eliminated bizarre spending initiatives including a $620,000 teen pregnancy prevention program for transgender boys and a $10 million “decolonization” curriculum
- The House has passed legislation to codify DOGE’s cost-cutting measures, awaiting Senate approval
Millions Saved Through Strategic Contract Terminations
The Department of Government Efficiency continues to deliver on its promise of eliminating wasteful government spending under President Trump’s administration. In a recent announcement, DOGE revealed that federal agencies had terminated 312 contracts deemed wasteful in just a seven-day period. These contracts had a combined ceiling value of $2.8 billion, with immediate savings of $470 million for American taxpayers. This decisive action demonstrates the administration’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and proper stewardship of public funds.
“Over the past seven days, various government agencies have terminated 312 ‘wasteful contracts’ with a ceiling value of $2.8 billion, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) said in a June 26 post on the social media platform X,” said Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Among the most egregious examples of government waste were a $286,000 Department of Defense contract for an entrepreneurship course at Harvard Business School and a $485,000 USAID contract for a senior advisor position in Madagascar. These types of unnecessary expenditures had been allowed to proliferate under previous administrations but are now being systematically eliminated through DOGE’s comprehensive review process.
Billions in Taxpayer Savings Achieved
The recent contract terminations represent just a fraction of DOGE’s overall impact on government spending. As of June 3, DOGE has identified and eliminated an estimated $180 billion in unnecessary government expenditures, which translates to approximately $1,118 returned to each American taxpayer. This remarkable achievement has been accomplished through various strategies including contract cancellations, lease renegotiations, grant terminations, elimination of fraudulent payments, asset sales, and workforce reductions.
Several federal departments have contributed significantly to these savings. The Department of Health and Human Services, Department of State, Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and Department of Education have all identified and eliminated substantial wasteful spending within their operations. Major cost-cutting initiatives include the cancellation of $2.9 billion for a refugee resettlement program, $1.9 billion for a Treasury technology program, and $1.7 billion for a USAID grant program that failed to demonstrate adequate return on investment.
Eliminating Ideological Spending and Ensuring Long-Term Savings
Beyond traditional waste and inefficiency, DOGE has targeted what it categorizes as some of the “strangest, most baffling uses” of taxpayer dollars. Among these were a $620,000 teen pregnancy prevention program specifically for transgender boys and a $10 million initiative to “decolonize” educational curriculum. These ideologically-driven programs represented not only financial waste but a misuse of government resources for politically divisive purposes rather than essential services for all Americans.
“On May 30, Musk and President Donald Trump appeared at the Oval Office, with the president crediting the entrepreneur for bringing ‘a colossal change in the old ways of doing business in Washington,'” stated President Donald Trump.
DOGE is now under new leadership with Amy Gleason at the helm, following the completion of Elon Musk’s initial 130-day mandate. Musk’s foundational work in establishing DOGE received direct praise from President Trump, who recognized the entrepreneur’s pivotal role in transforming Washington’s entrenched spending habits. The transition in leadership demonstrates the administration’s commitment to institutionalizing these reforms beyond any single individual’s involvement.
Making Reforms Permanent Through Legislation
To ensure these fiscal reforms become permanent, the House Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency recently held hearings advocating for the codification of DOGE’s spending cuts. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene emphasized the importance of institutionalizing the fight against government waste, saying efforts must “lock in” these reforms to prevent future administrations from reverting to wasteful practices. The Heritage Foundation’s David Burton reinforced this need, noting that actual long-term “fiscal sanity” requires Congressional action.
The House has already passed HR 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, which codifies several of DOGE’s spending cuts. This legislation now awaits Senate approval and the President’s signature. This legislative approach demonstrates the administration’s understanding that lasting reform requires structural changes to how government spending decisions are made and reviewed, not just one-time cuts. American taxpayers can expect continued focus on eliminating waste as the Trump administration works to restore fiscal discipline to Washington.
