February 19, 2025 09:00 AM PST
(PenniesToSave.com) – The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has taken an unprecedented step toward government transparency and fiscal responsibility with the release of its public savings portal.
For years, Americans have questioned where their tax dollars go and whether the government is spending responsibly. Now, with over $55 billion in projected savings, DOGE is exposing wasteful contracts, unnecessary leases, and financial mismanagement that has cost taxpayers billions.
By eliminating redundant federal programs, shutting down bloated contracts, and canceling underused real estate leases, DOGE is not just making recommendations—it’s taking direct action to cut waste.
Massive Government Contracts Canceled
Federal contracts represent a significant portion of government spending, but many of them provide little value to taxpayers. Whether due to bureaucratic inefficiencies, excessive costs, or outright fraud, billions of dollars have been wasted on unnecessary projects—until now.
DOGE’s analysis found that several federal agencies were spending enormous amounts on contracts that were duplicative or unnecessary. Here are some of the most egregious examples:
Department of Homeland Security – $8 Billion in Wasteful Spending
One of the largest cost-cutting measures came from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which had an $8 billion contract for “Program and Technical Support for Office of Diversity and Civil Rights”. While on paper this contract was intended to streamline DHS operations, internal audits found that much of the funding was paying for redundant advisory firms that repackaged information already available in government reports.
By terminating this contract, DOGE not only saved $8 billion but also forced DHS to restructure its operational support processes to rely on existing personnel instead of outside consultants.
Social Security Administration – $1.03 Billion in IT Overhauls That Never Happened
The Social Security Administration (SSA) had a contract worth over $1.03 billion for an IT system overhaul meant to modernize benefit processing. However, an internal audit revealed that after years of development, no meaningful progress had been made.
According to DOGE’s findings, this contract was part of a cycle of perpetual upgrades where SSA continually paid private contractors to “modernize” systems, only to scrap and restart the project every few years. The decision to cancel this contract eliminates billions in waste and pushes SSA toward internal IT solutions instead of outsourcing to overpriced private firms.
U.S. Agency for International Development – $1.9 Billion in Unnecessary Consulting
Three separate contracts within USAID’s Policy, Planning, and Learning (PPL) division were identified as redundant. These contracts, worth over $655 million each, were funding external evaluations of USAID programs—evaluations that duplicated reports already being conducted by internal teams.
By eliminating these contracts, DOGE forced USAID to consolidate its review processes and stop paying outside firms to repeat work already being done in-house. This move represents a larger push by DOGE to reduce government reliance on private consulting firms, which have been a significant drain on taxpayer dollars in recent years.
These contract cancellations alone saved taxpayers over $11 billion, but DOGE’s cost-cutting measures extend far beyond just contracts.
| Agency | Description | Date | Link | Saved |
| DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY | PROGRAM AND TECHNICAL SUPPO… | 1/28/2025 | link | $8,000,000,000 |
| SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION | ITSSC TASK ORDER FOR SYSTEMS | 2/1/2025 | link | $1,033,638,089 |
| US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT | PPL/LER NEW IDIQS | 2/12/2025 | link | $655,000,000 |
| US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT | PPL/LER NEW EVALUATION IDIQS | 2/12/2025 | link | $655,000,000 |
| US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT | NEW PPL/LER EVALUATION IDIQS | 2/12/2025 | link | $655,000,000 |
| US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT | IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PROSPER… | 2/12/2025 | link | $520,776,180 |
| US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT | CATALYZE BLENDED CAPITAL IN… | 2/12/2025 | link | $249,999,999 |
| US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT | GREEN RECOVERY INVESTMENT P… | 2/12/2025 | link | $249,547,177 |
| DEPARTMENT OF STATE | THIS IS A TASK ORDER FOR PR… | 2/5/2025 | link | $222,821,284 |
| US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT | DIGITAL STRATEGY IMPLEMENTA… | 2/12/2025 | link | $200,000,000 |
Empty Government Buildings Costing Millions
The federal government owns and leases hundreds of buildings across the country, but many of these buildings sit empty for years while still costing taxpayers millions in rent and maintenance.
DOGE’s findings revealed that dozens of major federal leases were still being paid for, despite agencies either not using the space at all or occupying only a fraction of what was leased.
Department of Labor – $26.3 Million Wasted Annually on an Empty Office
The biggest example of real estate waste was found at the Department of Labor (DOL), which had a lease on an 845,389 square foot building in Washington, DC. This lease cost taxpayers $26.3 million annually, despite the fact that DOL staff had been working remotely for years and had no plans to return to full-time office use.
DOGE terminated this lease and is now pushing for legislation that would require agencies to review and justify their real estate holdings every fiscal year.
Federal Trade Commission – $11.4 Million in Unused Office Space
Another major lease termination came from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which had a 259,130-square-foot lease in Washington, DC. The FTC had signed a long-term lease before the pandemic, but by 2024, less than 15% of employees were regularly coming into the office.
By cutting this lease, DOGE eliminated an $11.4 million annual expense and is now working with Congress to push federal agencies to shift toward a modern, efficient use of office space.
Total Real Estate Savings
In total, DOGE’s real estate cuts are projected to save taxpayers more than $45 million per year. The agency is also exploring ways to sell or repurpose federally owned properties rather than letting them sit empty.
| Main Agency | Location | Sq Ft | Saved |
| DEPARTMENT OF LABOR | WASHINGTON, DC | 845,389 | $26,357,330 |
| FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION | WASHINGTON, DC | 259,130 | $11,466,505 |
| DHS OFFICE OF THE UNDERSECRETARY FOR MANAGEMENT | WASHINGTON, DC | 59,681 | $2,774,013 |
| MULTIPLE | ARLINGTON, VA | 55,043 | $2,595,912 |
| MULTIPLE | WASHINGTON, DC | 66,390 | $2,547,874 |
| DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES | ATLANTA, GA | 119,812 | $2,473,060 |
| DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY | ARLINGTON, VA | 49,662 | $2,440,578 |
| MULTIPLE | WASHINGTON, DC | 46,821 | $2,087,093 |
| DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY | NEW YORK, NY | 0 | $1,834,070 |
| GEOLOGICAL SURVEY | MENLO PARK, CA | 20,000 | $1,800,000 |
How Much Has DOGE Saved?
Since launching its transparency and cost-cutting initiative, DOGE has identified and eliminated over $55 billion in unnecessary spending. This includes:
- Over $11 billion in wasteful government contracts canceled
- More than $45 million per year saved in real estate lease terminations
- Billions in expected savings from restructuring federal agency budgets
DOGE’s work is far from over. Moving forward, the agency is implementing new oversight policies that will require federal agencies to justify their spending before contracts are signed and leases are renewed.
Final Thoughts
The release of the DOGE Receipts is a watershed moment for government transparency. For the first time, Americans can see exactly where their tax dollars have been wasted—and how much is being saved through accountability measures.
Some federal agencies have pushed back against these cuts, arguing that the savings come at the cost of operational flexibility. However, watchdog groups and fiscal conservatives have hailed the move as a necessary step toward responsible government spending.
With $55 billion in total projected savings, DOGE’s initiative may be the most significant cost-cutting effort in modern U.S. history. Americans who want to track exactly where their tax dollars are being saved can explore the full breakdown at DOGE.gov/savings.