Elon Musk ’s Department of Government Efficiency claim to be fighting the scourge of government “ wastefulness ” and fraudulence and , this calendar week , DOGE claimed that it had already saved taxpayers tens of gazillion of dollars . However , in an ironic twirl , it would appear that the claims being made by Musk and DOGE about their own bodily process appear to be , themselves , fraudulent .
Despite late claiming that it had alreadysaved Americans $ 55 billion , the information on DOGE ’s internet site only accounts for $ 16 billion , onlookershave observe . uncollectible , about half of those savings appear to have been attributable to an accounting error . Indeed , amongst the so - called “ saving ” that DOGE recently send about on its site was an so-called $ 8 billion contract bridge for a diversity program being operated by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency . However , the New York Timeshas now reportedthat the existent cost of the curriculum was $ 8 million . In other words , it was a thousand times little than DOGE had initially claim it was . The DOGE website was after edited several times , in a serial of comical , flounder modification , that look for to correct the record — but only after the discrepancy was reported by the press .
It look that the original error may not have been DOGE ’s , as the Union contracting database in which the diverseness political program appeared originally number it as an $ 8 billion computer program . However , a savvy percipient would have known this was an erroneousness , reach the fact that most governmentagencieshave budgets that are nearly equivalent to such a figure . DOGE appears to have duplicated the error on its site , before repeatedly edit the information . The New York Times pause down DOGE ’s subsequent website edits like so :
© Jim WATSON / AFP
The DOGE website initially included a screenshot from the federal catching database express that the declaration ’s value was $ 8 million , even as the DOGE site listed $ 8 billion in economy . On Tuesday night , around the meter this clause was published , DOGE slay the screenshot that showed the mismatch , but continued to claim $ 8 billion in deliverance . It added a link to the original , outdated interlingual rendition of the contract deserving $ 8 billion .
By Wednesday morning , DOGE had update its lean to show $ 8 million in savings , though it did not acknowledge the error or explicate how it might affect its calculation of total money saved , which remain unchanged . A loss of $ 8 billion in savings would represent intimately 15 percent of the total savings take by DOGE .
Even the $ 8 million is an upper bind on the amount carry through by offset the contract bridge . Since $ 2.5 million had already been spend on the contract , according to data point on USAspending.gov , that propose that set off it saved $ 5.5 million at most .
From this , it seems sorta safe to assume that the citizenry running DOGE are either deceptive con artist or morons or both . Indeed , this is n’t the first time something like this has happened . Otherquestionable claimshave been made by Musk and DOGE on a routine and ongoing basis , many of which have been easy expose . Bloomberg notesthat while DOGE has promised to upload its work “ in a digestible and fully transparent manner with clear assumptions , logical with applicable formula and regulations , ” their workplace has been “ mostly shrouded in secrecy ” and its less - than - optimal “ accounting raises questions about the reliability of their self - reportage and their level of accountability . ”
In recent calendar week , some effectual attack have attempted to retard DOGE ’s violent disorder through the federal administration , though many of those elbow grease have run into barrier . Last calendar week , 14 state of matter attorney generalsued the White House , alleging that Trump had plunder the Constitution by appointing Musk . The judicial proceeding asked for a restraining order against DOGE to confine the first step ’s destructive oscilloscope . However , on Tuesday , Union justice Tanya Chutkanmade the decisionnot to go forth the ordination , claim that — for some understanding — Musk ’s lot firing of civil handmaid and hun - similar behavior vis - a - vis Union database did not rise to the legal definition of “ irreparable harm ” that such an order required . This , despite the fact that the backers of the new judicature have openly stated that “ irreparable injury ” is exactlywhat they mean to inflict upon the government .
That said , while Chutkan has abnegate the restraining guild , Ag attached to the case remain affirmative andsay they “ palpate good”about it overall . The case — which is on-going — deliver the chance to de jure investigate what the government is doing with DOGE , they say , and the investigation could finally let out whether Trump has violate the constitution via Musk ’s appointment .
Musk ’s fingerprints are all over DOGE . Many staffers havepreviously work for Musk or his company , and Musk and Trumphave both openly statedthat Musk is responsible for leading the initiative . Despite this , White House lawyer of late made the exorbitant claim that Musk is not actually “ in commission ” of DOGE . Indeed , as part of the legal DoD against the state AGs ’ cause , government attorney claimed that Musk is simply “ apprize ” the president as a “ particular government employee . ” Musk has “ no actual authorisation to make politics decision himself , ” Joshua Fisher , director of the White House Office of Administration , recently take .
If it is true that Musk is an SGE , it would mean that he is beholden to some police force and regulations that it ’s not open he ’s espouse . David Dayden , of The American Prospect , recently made the pointthat SGEs are only allow to work a aggregate of 130 days a year , which would intend that Musk would have to go out government by May 30th . Of course , there always seems to be a loophole that admit the Trump governance to get its way .
More of late , Musk has beguntalking about a “ DOGE dividend,”which he claims would allow DOGE to send the money that the organization has “ save up ” flat to the American populace . Such gestures seem to paint a picture that Musk and others running the administration view the American world as a moronic rabble that can be easy manipulated via the spectacle of “ devoid ” money . The proposal is also reasonably reminiscent of Musk ’s lawfully questionablepayments to “ petition signers”during the presidential election .
Americans barrack Musk ’s demolition of the government activity in the name of “ efficiency ” probably have a limited sympathy of what the government does or how it contributes to the truly efficient operation of the country . This sarcastic tweet sorta say it all :
i lose over thirty pound by cutting off my legs!https://t.co / eQoepqEOjR
— soul khan ( @soulkhan)February 18 , 2025
Elon Musk
Daily Newsletter
Get the safe technical school , science , and culture news in your inbox daily .
News from the time to come , delivered to your present .
You May Also Like
