A detailed analysis by Politico indicates that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has saved considerably less than it professes. After six months of canceling research grants, federal contracts, and laying off federal workers across the country, DOGE has failed to achieve the savings promised by Elon Musk.

DOGE has claimed $205 billion in total savings since the start of President Donald Trump’s administration, as shown on its public “wall of receipts.” However, Politico points out that this wall is missing essential documentation.

DOGE claims to have saved taxpayers $52.8 billion from canceled contracts, but Politico was only able to verify $32.7 billion in contract cancellations. Furthermore, the real savings resulting from these cancellations are approximately $1.4 billion due to DOGE’s “creative” accounting methods. Politico revealed that DOGE realized only around 2.6 percent of its asserted savings from canceled contracts. Critically, none of this money can alleviate the federal deficit without Congressional approval, as the funds are returned to the respective agencies.

Politico’s extensive report delineates how DOGE engages in “faulty math” by determining savings based on the maximum potential outlay of each contract, rather than the actual or intended expenditures. This problem has been understood since February, with experts likening it to a credit card limit: canceling a card with a $1 million limit does not equate to saving $1 million.

According to Politico’s findings, DOGE’s claims of savings are “drastically exaggerated,” and the magnitude of these inflated assertions is now evident. The Trump administration responded to Politico, claiming that the agency accomplished “historic savings for the American people” and that DOGE’s savings list is both accurate and updated instantaneously.

Doubts regarding DOGE’s inflated figures may not be surprising to those aware of Musk’s actions since January. Musk, who departed from DOGE earlier this year, initially asserted that the agency would save $2 trillion, eventually lowering the target to $150 billion in April.

The cuts made by DOGE have effectively shut down certain government services, decreased foreign aid, and eliminated $125 million in funding for LGBTQ health initiatives.