GAO finds DOGE claimed savings that never happened

Aug 5, 2026

A Government Accountability Office report reveals that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) claimed tens of billions of dollars in unsubstantiated federal savings that never actually occurred. Investigators identified 206 DOGE personnel, including Elon Musk as a special government employee, but could not verify ethics training, financial disclosures, or appointment types for most staff due to widespread agency non-cooperation. Despite these gaps, DOGE spearheaded civil service cuts reducing the federal workforce by over 350,000 employees.

GAO report on DOGE personnel

▪The Government Accountability Office found that at least 128 of the 206 identified Department of Government Efficiency personnel had separated from their positions by January 31, 2026.
▪The Government Accountability Office reported that at least 27 Department of Government Efficiency employees, including former de facto head Elon Musk, were classified as special government employees.
▪A Government Accountability Office report released on August 5, 2026, identified at least 206 Department of Government Efficiency personnel in the Executive Office of the President.

Unsubstantiated savings claims

▪The Department of Government Efficiency claimed tens of billions of dollars in federal savings on its public "Wall of Receipts" platform.
▪The Government Accountability Office found that the tens of billions of dollars in savings touted by the Department of Government Efficiency never occurred and could not be substantiated.

Ethics training gaps

▪The Government Accountability Office found that ethics training documentation submitted by nine federal agencies for 64 Department of Government Efficiency employees was incomplete.
▪Ten federal agencies and the Executive Office of the President failed to respond to Government Accountability Office requests for records regarding Department of Government Efficiency employees' ethics training.
▪Ten federal agencies and the Executive Office of the President did not provide records to the Government Accountability Office confirming whether Department of Government Efficiency employees completed financial disclosures.

Unknown appointment types

▪The Government Accountability Office was unable to determine the official appointment type for more than 150 Department of Government Efficiency personnel due to agency non-cooperation.
▪The Government Accountability Office could not verify if 127 U.S. DOGE Service employees holding digital services expert or consultant titles had time-limited appointments.

Federal workforce reduction impact

▪The Department of Government Efficiency spearheaded civil service reductions that resulted in a decrease of more than 350,000 federal employees between January 20, 2025, and January 31, 2026.
▪Although the temporary U.S. DOGE Service organization terminated on July 4, 2026, the establishing executive order permanently renamed an existing White House office, allowing work to continue.