Elon Musk's DOGE Slashes Billions in Federal Spending
Under Elon Musk’s leadership, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has cut billions in federal spending, targeting contracts and grants related to climate change and gender equity in Mexico and Peru.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, announced significant cuts to federal spending on Tuesday, terminating 113 contracts valued at $4.7 billion. Among the terminated contracts was a $145,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) consulting contract for Peru’s climate change activities. DOGE’s actions also led to the cancellation of $577 million in “America Last” grants by the Department of Labor, resulting in savings of $237 million.
The canceled funding included $10 million aimed at promoting gender equity in the Mexican workplace, $12.2 million for worker empowerment in South America, and $6.25 million for improving respect for workers’ rights in the agricultural supply chains of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Additional cuts targeted $5 million for elevating women’s participation in the workplace in West Africa, $4.3 million to assist foreign migrant workers in Malaysia, $3 million to enhance Social Security access and worker protection for internal migrant workers in Bangladesh, and $3 million for safe and inclusive work environments in Lesotho.
DOGE, a temporary organization within the White House created by executive order earlier this year, was tasked by President Donald Trump with optimizing the federal government, streamlining operations, and slashing spending within an 18-month timeframe. As of March 26, DOGE claims to have saved Americans $130 billion, or $807.45 per taxpayer.
Despite these savings, critics argue that DOGE has too much access to federal systems and should not be permitted to cancel federal contracts or make cuts to various agencies. The organization’s actions have sparked debate over the balance between efficiency and the necessity of certain federal programs.