DOGE revises billions in savings claims amid data flaws

DOGE has revised its public “wall of receipts” after multiple errors were exposed that had significantly inflated its claimed federal contract cancellation savings. According to the New York Times, the initiative deleted more than 1,000 contract entries—including several of its largest savings claims—erasing an additional $4 billion in reported savings.

Among the most notable deletions was a purported $1.9 billion saving from canceling an IRS contract, later found to have been canceled months earlier, and several entries where erroneous data (such as confusing billions with millions or double-counting cancellations) led to inflated totals. Initially, DOGE’s “wall” showcased nearly $16 billion in savings, but after corrections, the total has dropped to less than $9 billion.

In response to the mounting criticism from contracting and budget experts, DOGE’s website now includes a disclaimer attributing the data discrepancies to individual federal agencies, claiming that the figures originate directly from agency contracting officials. However, the repeated errors have raised serious concerns about the initiative’s data management and overall competence in tracking federal expenditures.