Title: DOGE’s Cost-Cutting Measures May Be Costing Taxpayers Billions
In a controversial turn of events, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, claims to have saved the government $150 billion by targeting waste, fraud, and abuse. However, federal workforce experts argue that Musk’s aggressive cost-cutting has led to significant losses, ultimately costing taxpayers billions due to diminished productivity.
Musk initially set an ambitious goal of identifying $2 trillion in savings, but scaled it back to just $150 billion—only 7.5% of his original estimate. This change in direction has affected approximately 260,000 federal workers, with layoffs and retirements, particularly within the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where around one-third of its workforce could be lost.
Experts warn that fewer employees may reduce salary expenses but could drastically impede the government’s ability to conduct essential work, like tax audits. Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, indicated that the approach taken is counterproductive and likely to leave taxpayers footing the bill as the administration continues to roll back workforce efficiency.
The Partnership’s analysis suggests that DOGE could be costing taxpayers around $135 billion annually due to the disruptions in the federal workforce. A Yale University Budget Lab report predicts a potential loss of $198 billion over ten years if job cuts within the IRS proceed as planned. Critics argue that DOGE’s claimed savings often lack accuracy, with some accounting for historical contracts that had already expired.
Stier cautioned that the chaos surrounding personnel changes leads to wasted productivity, emphasizing that trauma inflicted on federal employees hampers their effectiveness. The current simplification of the workforce, rather than fostering efficiency, may ultimately lead to significant revenue losses as well.
As Musk steps back, the future of DOGE’s initiatives raises questions about their long-term impact on government efficiency and taxpayer expenses.
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