DOGE Disbanded: Federal Spending Goals Fall Short Amid Controversy

URGENT UPDATE: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has officially disbanded, according to Reuters reports from September 24, 2023. This crucial development highlights the organization’s failure to achieve its mission of slashing federal spending, raising significant concerns about the future of government efficiency initiatives.

Scott Kupar, head of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, confirmed the disbandment, stating that while DOGE will no longer operate as a centralized group, its principles remain embedded within various federal agencies. In a social media post, he emphasized, “The truth is: DOGE may not have centralized leadership under @USDS. But, the principles of DOGE remain alive and well: de-regulation; eliminating fraud, waste and abuse; re-shaping the federal workforce; making efficiency a first-class citizen.”

Originally established with much fanfare during the Trump administration, DOGE was envisioned as a powerful entity to cut government spending. However, its influence waned significantly following public disputes between Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump earlier this year. The organization struggled to regain traction and never fully realized its intended power to issue layoff notices or terminate contracts.

Despite claims of achieving around $214 billion in savings, experts have criticized these figures as inflated and inaccurate, citing issues like double-counting. Jessica Riedl, a policy expert at the Brookings Institution, labeled DOGE as “spending cut theatre” that failed to grasp the main drivers of the federal deficit, particularly entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare.

Bobby Kogan from the Center for American Progress Action Fund remarked on social media, “Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was,” pointing out that overall federal spending is projected to rise in the 2025 fiscal year. He noted that spending at Congress’s discretion accounted for roughly 26% of the federal budget last year, underscoring the limited impact DOGE had on broader fiscal policies.

In August, Kupar indicated that approximately 300,000 federal employees would exit the workforce this year, equating to one in eight civilian government employees. While many of these reductions can be attributed to buyouts initiated by DOGE, some employees have since been reinstated.

Despite DOGE’s disbandment, Musk remains a significant figure in U.S. politics. Recently, he attended a dinner with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin-Salman at the White House, signifying his continued influence and involvement in high-stakes political matters.

As the federal government grapples with the fallout from DOGE’s disbandment, the implications for future spending and efficiency measures remain unclear. The White House did not respond to requests for comment, leaving many questions about the path forward in federal spending reform.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as the impact of DOGE’s collapse unfolds across the federal landscape.