DOGE displayed $113 million in lease savings even though its 264 rows summed to $53.5 million; GAO estimated $31.8 million in savings and an $81.1 million overstatement against the headline.
DOGE overstated lease savings by $81.1 million, GAO found
Back to results- Date
- 2026-08-06
- Evidence status
- estimate
- Current status
- GAO estimated $31.8 million, $81.1 million below DOGE's headline
The ledger
821 matching recordsHouse voting ended early before the 2026 election recess2026-09-16Donald J. TrumpSet House voting schedule affecting oversight of Trump's administrationMike Johnson2 sourcesMassie gave notice of eight proposed impeachment articles against Hegseth2026-09-15Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed defense secretary named in Massie's proposed impeachment resolutionPete Hegseth2 sourcesOCC conditionally approved World Liberty's national trust charter2026-08-14Donald J. Trumpson, family-business executive, and co-founder of the Trump-branded WLF ventureDonald Trump Jr.3 sourcesOCC conditionally approved World Liberty's national trust charter2026-08-14Donald J. Trumpson, family-business executive, and co-founder of the Trump-branded WLF ventureEric Trump3 sourcesNepal maternal and newborn services collapsed after USAID support ended2026-08-13Elon Muskterminated support for remote maternal-care systemsU.S. Agency for International Development1 sourceNepal maternal and newborn services collapsed after USAID support ended2026-08-13Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk1 sourceNepal maternal and newborn services collapsed after USAID support ended2026-08-13Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed secretary of state and acting USAID administratorMarco Rubio1 sourceDOGE labeled a $3.75 billion Air Force contract-ceiling cut as savings2026-08-06Elon Muskcounted a ceiling reduction on an active contract as savingsDepartment of the Air Force1 sourceDOGE labeled a $3.75 billion Air Force contract-ceiling cut as savings2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed defense secretaryPete Hegseth1 sourceDOGE labeled a $3.75 billion Air Force contract-ceiling cut as savings2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk1 sourceDOGE claimed $62.7 million on an Air Force IT contract; GAO found $21.6 million deobligated2026-08-06Elon Muskclaimed savings from an Air Force IT contract actionDepartment of the Air Force1 sourceDOGE claimed $62.7 million on an Air Force IT contract; GAO found $21.6 million deobligated2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed defense secretaryPete Hegseth1 sourceDOGE claimed $62.7 million on an Air Force IT contract; GAO found $21.6 million deobligated2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk1 sourceA $28 million DCSA savings claim was followed by a $27.4 million replacement award2026-08-06Elon Muskterminated and repurchased finance-modernization servicesDefense Counterintelligence and Security Agency1 sourceA $28 million DCSA savings claim was followed by a $27.4 million replacement award2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed defense secretaryPete Hegseth1 sourceA $28 million DCSA savings claim was followed by a $27.4 million replacement award2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk1 sourceDOGE claimed more than $1.7 billion on a Defense Health IT contract with no recorded reduction2026-08-06Elon Muskclaimed savings without altering the active health IT contractDefense Health Agency1 sourceDOGE claimed more than $1.7 billion on a Defense Health IT contract with no recorded reduction2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed defense secretaryPete Hegseth1 sourceDOGE claimed more than $1.7 billion on a Defense Health IT contract with no recorded reduction2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk1 sourceGAO could reproduce only 3.8 percent of DOGE's grant-savings dollars2026-08-06Elon Muskpublished grant totals without reproducible calculationsGAO audit of DOGE's Wall of Receipts1 sourceGAO could reproduce only 3.8 percent of DOGE's grant-savings dollars2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk1 sourceGAO could reproduce only 3.8 percent of DOGE's grant-savings dollars2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed OMB director and acting CFPB directorRussell Vought1 sourceA closed COVID testing contract released roughly $50.2 million while DOGE showed zero2026-08-06Elon Muskpublished zero for a contract with recorded deobligationsU.S. Department of Health and Human Services1 sourceA closed COVID testing contract released roughly $50.2 million while DOGE showed zero2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed health and human services secretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr.1 sourceA closed COVID testing contract released roughly $50.2 million while DOGE showed zero2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk1 sourceHHS restored $4.5 million after DOGE claimed $6.5 million on an epidemic system2026-08-06Elon Muskcut and then extended an epidemic-notification contractU.S. Department of Health and Human Services1 sourceHHS restored $4.5 million after DOGE claimed $6.5 million on an epidemic system2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed health and human services secretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr.1 sourceHHS restored $4.5 million after DOGE claimed $6.5 million on an epidemic system2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk1 sourceA $14.7 million HHS registry claim yielded $141,489 in recorded deobligation2026-08-06Elon Muskclaimed savings from routine contract closeoutU.S. Department of Health and Human Services1 sourceA $14.7 million HHS registry claim yielded $141,489 in recorded deobligation2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed health and human services secretaryRobert F. Kennedy Jr.1 sourceA $14.7 million HHS registry claim yielded $141,489 in recorded deobligation2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk1 sourceDOGE overstated lease savings by $81.1 million, GAO found2026-08-06Elon Muskpublished internally inconsistent lease savingsGeneral Services Administration1 sourceDOGE overstated lease savings by $81.1 million, GAO found2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk1 sourceDOGE overstated lease savings by $81.1 million, GAO found2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed OMB director and acting CFPB directorRussell Vought1 sourceForty-one percent of DOGE-listed lease terminations predated DOGE2026-08-06Elon Muskclaimed credit for lease actions begun before DOGEGeneral Services Administration1 sourceForty-one percent of DOGE-listed lease terminations predated DOGE2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk1 sourceForty-one percent of DOGE-listed lease terminations predated DOGE2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed OMB director and acting CFPB directorRussell Vought1 sourceOnly 27.5 percent of DOGE's contract savings followed its stated method2026-08-06Elon Muskpublished savings that mostly failed its stated methodGAO audit of DOGE's Wall of Receipts1 sourceOnly 27.5 percent of DOGE's contract savings followed its stated method2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk1 sourceOnly 27.5 percent of DOGE's contract savings followed its stated method2026-08-06Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed OMB director and acting CFPB directorRussell Vought1 source