Viewpoint: The DOGE department led by Musk may actually be cutting costs far below 10 billion dollars.

Yesterday, Musk tweeted, “As my time as a special government employee comes to an end, I want to thank President Trump for giving me this opportunity to cut wasteful spending. The mission of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life for the whole of government.” Advisory committees like DOGE do not have the power to cut federal spending, close agencies, or cancel contracts, their recommendations are implemented by the president or appointed officials, and most cost-cutting measures require congressional legislation, according to the analysis. This means that Trump should have pushed for legislation to legitimize DOGE reforms, but he didn’t, and the House of Representatives’ recently passed budget approved only $9.3 billion in institutional cuts, less than 5% of Musk’s original $2 trillion annual throttling target. “DOGE thunders and rains,” said Jessica Riedl, a budget analyst at the Manhattan Institute, “and the actual throttling is probably well below $10 billion.” The political reality has exposed the essence of DOGE, which may be a superficial cost-cutting show, and the “stubbornness” of the federal budget has not been touched in the slightest. Members of Congress have a firm grip on the various institutions of the executive branch, and even Republicans are reluctant to allow “vigilantes” like Musk to interfere with their turf. (Golden Ten)