The $21.7 Billion Blunder: Analyzing the Waste Generated by DOGE

Reporting cited here

1. reported

   The Trump administration decided not to continue IRS Direct File, a free filing service used in participating states; the Federation of American Scientists documented the public investment and efficiency implications of the closure.

   Passages and source records documenting: The administration ended IRS Direct File after two filing seasons

   The administration ended IRS Direct File after two filing seasons · Direct File was discontinued for the next filing season

2. estimate

   For three NIH grants examined in detail, PSI minority staff estimated $4,486,863.68 in sunk or stranded research cost after termination.

   Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff counted $4.49 million lost across three NIH grants

   Senate minority staff counted $4.49 million lost across three NIH grants · $4.49 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

3. estimate

   The PSI minority report cited plans to destroy 496 metric tons of U.S.-purchased food aid, with an estimated disposal cost of $100,000, after distribution was blocked.

   Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff documented plans to destroy 496 metric tons of food

   Senate minority staff documented plans to destroy 496 metric tons of food · $100,000 minority-staff estimate through July 2025

4. estimate

   PSI minority staff estimated $1,683,439.91 in disruption and administrative cost from DOGE purchase-card restrictions at NASA, the FAA, and the Administration for Children and Families.

   Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $1.68 million from three purchase-card freezes

   Senate minority staff estimated $1.68 million from three purchase-card freezes · $1.68 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

5. estimate

   PSI minority staff estimated $109,665,552.62 in USAID commodity spoilage and related loss after aid programs and logistics were abruptly frozen.

   Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $109.7 million in spoiled or stranded USAID commodities

   Senate minority staff estimated $109.7 million in spoiled or stranded USAID commodities · $109.67 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

6. estimate

   PSI minority staff estimated the Deferred Resignation Program would cost approximately $14,762,224,251 for about 200,000 participating employees.

   Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $14.76 billion for deferred resignations

   Senate minority staff estimated $14.76 billion for deferred resignations · $14.76 billion minority-staff estimate through July 2025

7. estimate

   PSI minority staff estimated $152,337,495.91 in compensation for CFPB employees placed on administrative leave under the Trump administration's stop-work drive.

   Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $152.3 million for CFPB administrative leave

   Senate minority staff estimated $152.3 million for CFPB administrative leave · $152.34 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

8. estimate

   PSI minority staff estimated that federal workers spent $155,149,882.82 worth of compensated time responding to DOGE's recurring request to list five accomplishments.

   Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $155.1 million in time spent on DOGE's weekly email

   Senate minority staff estimated $155.1 million in time spent on DOGE's weekly email · $155.15 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

9. estimate

   PSI minority staff estimated $16,824,145.80 in reinstatement-related costs after agencies reversed DOGE-era probationary dismissals.

   Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $16.8 million to reinstate wrongly dismissed staff

   Senate minority staff estimated $16.8 million to reinstate wrongly dismissed staff · $16.82 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

10. estimate

    PSI minority staff reported an estimated $160,000 disposal cost for contraceptive commodities stranded by the foreign-aid shutdown.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $160,000 to destroy contraceptive supplies

    Senate minority staff estimated $160,000 to destroy contraceptive supplies · $160,000 minority-staff estimate through July 2025

11. estimate

    Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations minority staff estimated $21,669,710,304.93 in costs associated with DOGE's first six months, including paid leave, separation programs, lost fees, and remediation.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $21.67 billion in DOGE-created costs

    Senate minority staff estimated $21.67 billion in DOGE-created costs · $21.67 billion minority-staff estimate through July 2025

12. estimate

    PSI minority staff estimated $263,315,696.90 in foregone interest and fee revenue associated with DOGE-era disruption at the Department of Energy Loan Programs Office.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $263.3 million in lost Energy loan interest and fees

    Senate minority staff estimated $263.3 million in lost Energy loan interest and fees · $263.32 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

13. estimate

    PSI minority staff estimated $298,135,590.26 in compensation for USAID personnel put on administrative leave during the dismantling drive.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $298.1 million for USAID administrative leave

    Senate minority staff estimated $298.1 million for USAID administrative leave · $298.14 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

14. estimate

    The PSI minority report estimated $37,973,100 in staff time to plan reductions in force affecting an estimated 68,420 employees.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $38.0 million for reduction-in-force planning

    Senate minority staff estimated $38.0 million for reduction-in-force planning · $37.97 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

15. estimate

    The PSI minority report estimated $41,799,783 in costs associated with Office of Personnel Management relocations during DOGE restructuring.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $41.8 million for OPM office relocations

    Senate minority staff estimated $41.8 million for OPM office relocations · $41.80 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

16. estimate

    PSI minority staff estimated $443,874,397.32 in paid leave and related cost for 24,583 probationary employees affected by DOGE-era termination directives.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $443.9 million for probationary workers placed on leave

    Senate minority staff estimated $443.9 million for probationary workers placed on leave · $443.87 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

17. estimate

    The PSI minority report modeled $5,008,662,113.40 in potential severance for 68,420 employees covered by reduction-in-force planning.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $5.01 billion in severance exposure

    Senate minority staff estimated $5.01 billion in severance exposure · $5.01 billion minority-staff estimate through July 2025

18. estimate

    The PSI minority report estimated $50,519,609.69 for DOGE's direct operations, separating the cost of the operation from any claimed savings.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $50.5 million for DOGE's direct operations

    Senate minority staff estimated $50.5 million for DOGE's direct operations · $50.52 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

19. estimate

    The PSI minority report estimated $61,865,000 in Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments connected to DOGE-era downsizing.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $61.9 million for separation incentive payments

    Senate minority staff estimated $61.9 million for separation incentive payments · $61.87 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

20. estimate

    PSI minority staff estimated $66,457,461.05 in underutilized employee time at the Social Security Administration and National Park Service during DOGE disruptions.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $66.5 million from unused SSA and park staff

    Senate minority staff estimated $66.5 million from unused SSA and park staff · $66.46 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

21. estimate

    PSI minority staff estimated $69,632,687.34 in pay for U.S. Agency for Global Media personnel placed on administrative leave.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $69.6 million for USAGM administrative leave

    Senate minority staff estimated $69.6 million for USAGM administrative leave · $69.63 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

22. estimate

    Using identified DOGE personnel and compensation assumptions, PSI minority staff estimated $9,398,453.69 for agency teams, based on 107 estimated employees among 141 identified people working across 55 agencies.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $9.4 million for embedded DOGE agency teams

    Senate minority staff estimated $9.4 million for embedded DOGE agency teams · $9.40 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

23. estimate

    PSI minority staff estimated $91,474,718.23 in compensation for Education Department employees placed on administrative leave during the workforce-reduction drive.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff estimated $91.5 million for Education Department leave

    Senate minority staff estimated $91.5 million for Education Department leave · $91.47 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

24. estimate

    PSI minority staff identified $33.5 million already spent developing Direct File as a sunk public cost when the Trump administration ended the IRS service.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff identified $33.5 million sunk in IRS Direct File

    Senate minority staff identified $33.5 million sunk in IRS Direct File · $33.5 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

25. estimate

    The PSI minority report identified $41,121,156 in reimbursements to the U.S. DOGE Service from agencies receiving DOGE work.

    Passages and source records documenting: Senate minority staff traced $41.1 million in USDS reimbursements

    Senate minority staff traced $41.1 million in USDS reimbursements · $41.12 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025