In an extraordinary move to curb government waste, the Department of Government Efficiency’s decision to terminate inefficient contracts highlights a critical shift towards efficiency and fiscal responsibility in the federal arena.
At a Glance
- The new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) canceled 312 “wasteful” federal contracts in one week, saving taxpayers $470 million.
- Total savings from DOGE have now reached approximately $180 billion, or $1,118 per taxpayer.
- Axed contracts include a $286,000 DoD enrollment in a Harvard course and a $485,000 USAID advisor contract in Madagascar.
- The House has passed the “Rescissions Act of 2025” to give the president enhanced authority to cancel wasteful spending.
DOGE Slashes Government Waste
The Trump administration’s new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is continuing its aggressive push to cut federal waste, announcing this week the termination of 312 government contracts. The move is projected to save American taxpayers an immediate $470 million, with the total ceiling value of the canceled contracts reaching $2.8 billion.
The creation of DOGE was a cornerstone of the administration’s promise to bring fiscal discipline to Washington, and its actions are being hailed by supporters as a significant step toward responsible governance.
Targeting Absurd and Wasteful Spending
The latest round of cancellations highlights specific examples of what critics call absurd and profligate government spending. According to a report from PJ Media, the axed contracts include:
- A $286,000 Department of Defense contract to enroll a single employee in an “entrepreneurship course at Harvard University.”
- A $485,000 USAID contract for a “senior general development advisor at USAID Madagascar.”
By targeting such obvious examples of waste, DOGE is demonstrating a practical approach to fiscal management that has been absent from Washington for decades.
A Victory for Taxpayers
These weekly savings are part of a much larger effort that is yielding substantial results. Since its inception, DOGE’s initiatives—which include asset sales, fraud elimination, and contract cancellations—have saved the federal government an estimated $180 billion. According to an analysis by NTD News, this amounts to a savings of $1,118 for every American taxpayer.
The savings are already being repurposed for more critical needs, such as funding much-needed technology upgrades for the National Weather Service’s radio network and replacing outdated copper contracts with more efficient wireless systems.
Locking in the Savings
To ensure this new era of “fiscal sanity” continues, the House of Representatives has passed H.R. 4, the “Rescissions Act of 2025.” This legislation is designed to give the President enhanced authority to cancel wasteful spending that has been appropriated by Congress but not yet spent. The bill aims to “lock in” the savings identified by DOGE and make fiscal responsibility a permanent feature of the federal government, not just a temporary initiative.
