Tiny Red HandsBack

HHS restored $4.5 million after DOGE claimed $6.5 million on an epidemic system

Date
2026-08-06
Entry type
contract-audit
Current status
Contract remained active at $10.9 million after partial termination and new option work

A later option award undercut the published savings figure for a disease-notification service.

Entities and roles

Relationships in this file

  1. Elon Muskcut and then extended an epidemic-notification contractU.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  2. Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed health and human services secretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr.
  3. Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk

Money trail

  1. contractOption added after epidemic-contract savings claim$4.5 million
    Awarded by
    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    Awarded to
    Epidemic-notification contractor
    Contract / case parties
    Public-health programs and taxpayers
    awarded · 2026-07-07 · observedPopulation HHS epidemic-notification contractPeriod 2025-01-20 to 2026-07-07Basis GAO review of contract modifications.Limits Option value is observed spending authority, not necessarily cash outlay.Open cited evidence

Claims and evidence

  1. analysisdocumented

    DOGE claimed $6.5 million after HHS partially terminated and descoped an epidemic-notification contract by more than $2 million, but HHS later exercised a $4.5 million option and the active contract value reached $10.9 million.

  2. factdocumented

    Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was the Trump-appointed health and human services secretary.

  3. factdocumented

    Elon Musk was the Trump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE work.