The Daily DOGE Has a Math Problem
353 snips
Mar 4, 2025 
David A. Fahrenthold, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, dives into the controversial claims surrounding Elon Musk's DOGE project. He reveals alarming discrepancies in the purported savings from federal contracts, including a shocking typo that inflated values by billions. The conversation critiques the project's focus on minor contracts and the political motivations driving budget cuts. Fahrenthold also discusses the diminished credibility of financial claims, emphasizing the need for cautious oversight in government spending.
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ICE Budget Typo
- DOGE claimed an $8 billion cut to ICE’s budget, but ICE’s total budget is only $8 billion.
- This was a typo, the actual amount being $8 million, revealing DOGE’s lack of basic knowledge about the agency.
USAID Contract Triplication
- DOGE counted the same USAID contract three times because it appeared under different vendors.
- They listed the combined savings from this single contract as $1.965 billion instead of $655 million.
Pre-Existing Cancellations
- DOGE claimed credit for canceling contracts already terminated before President Trump’s term.
- One example was a $1.9 billion Treasury IT contract canceled under President Biden and a Coast Guard contract that ended in 2005.