The Department of Government Efficiency announced major news this past week.

More than 100 federal contracts have been terminated. These contracts had a value of nearly $6 billion.

Multiple agencies terminated and descoped 108 wasteful contracts. DOGE wrote this in an Oct. 10 post on X. The contracts have a ceiling value of $5.8 billion.

They resulted in savings of $397 million.

That includes a $3.1 million State Department contract. The contract was titled Tanzania National Coordination Office Development. A $46,500 U.S. Agency for Global Media lease was also terminated.

That lease was for office space for the Voice of America East Asia and Pacific Service.

Other terminated items include a $5.8 million Department of Health and Human Services contract. This was for organizational development, executive coaching, and leadership training. A $44 million State Department contract for professional services in Doha, Qatar was also cut.

President Donald Trump established DOGE on his first day in office. Since then, DOGE has slashed around $214 billion in estimated savings. This equals around $1,329.19 per taxpayer according to an Oct. 4 update.

So far, 13,440 contract terminations totaling approximately $61 billion have been completed. There have been 15,887 grant terminations worth around $49 billion. Additionally, 264 lease terminations totaling around $113 million have been posted on DOGE’s website.

Trump reorganized the former U.S. Digital Service in a Jan. 20 order. He renamed it the Department of Government Efficiency. He directed the heads of federal agencies to allow DOGE staffers full access.

They get full and prompt access to all unclassified agency records, software systems, and IT systems.

Trump signed another order in February. It directed the heads of agencies to review all existing covered contracts and grants. Where appropriate and consistent with applicable law, they must terminate or modify contracts.

The goal is to reduce federal spending and slash fraud, waste, and abuse.

Before his departure in late May, Elon Musk served as a leader of DOGE. The former special government employee and Trump adviser led the administration’s efforts to reduce federal spending.

While the number of layoffs is unclear, more than 201,000 federal employees have left the government. The Partnership for Public Service says this happened as of Sept. 23.

Earlier in the year, the Trump administration offered federal workers an option. Workers who do not want to return to offices could take a deferred resignation. They would agree to resign but get paid through Sept. 30.

Efforts to lay off more employees are ongoing. These reductions-in-force continue in the midst of a nearly two-week-long government shutdown. The shutdown started Oct. 1.

Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought confirmed this information this past week. Court papers submitted by the administration revealed specific numbers. Around 4,100 workers across several agencies received layoff notices.

A memo released by the budget office stated information about federal programs. For programs that would have a funding lapse during a government shutdown, such programs are no longer statutorily required to be carried out.

The memo also directed all federal agencies to submit reduction-in-force plans. These plans must go to the budget office for review.

DOGE’s success in cutting wasteful spending proves that government can be more efficient. The terminated contracts show how much taxpayer money was being wasted on unnecessary programs.

A $3.1 million contract for Tanzania coordination doesn’t benefit American taxpayers. A $46,500 lease for Voice of America office space is questionable spending. A $5.8 million contract for executive coaching and leadership training at HHS is wasteful.

Why does the State Department need $44 million for professional services in Qatar? These are the types of questions DOGE is asking. They are finding billions in wasteful spending.

The $214 billion in estimated savings represents real money returned to taxpayers. That’s $1,329 per taxpayer. For a family of four, that’s over $5,000 in government waste eliminated.

The 13,440 contract terminations show the scale of the problem. Thousands of wasteful contracts existed across the federal government. DOGE is systematically eliminating them.

The 15,887 grant terminations worth $49 billion reveal even more waste. Federal grants often fund questionable programs with little oversight. DOGE is ending this gravy train.

The 264 lease terminations save $113 million. Federal agencies rent too much office space. With telework and reduced workforce, much of this space is unnecessary.

Over 201,000 federal employees have left the government. This represents a significant reduction in the federal workforce. Many of these positions were unnecessary.

The deferred resignation program allowed workers to leave voluntarily. They received pay through September while agreeing to resign. This reduced the need for forced layoffs.

But reductions-in-force are still necessary. Around 4,100 workers recently received layoff notices. More cuts are coming as agencies submit their RIF plans.