Elon Musk's Government Efficiency Push Falls Short As Treasury Data Shows Spending Up Sharply Since Trump's Inauguration: Report
www.benzinga.com
Despite Elon Musk's claims that the Department of Government Efficiency has saved $150 billion, federal spending under Trump's second term has increased by $154 billion, driven largely by rising entitlement costs and debt interest payments, with limited short-term impact from DOGE's cuts.

Despite aggressive cost-cutting by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, federal spending has reportedly climbed by $154 billion since Donald Trump returned to office.

Government spending is significantly higher under Trump’s second term compared to the same period in 2024 under Joe Biden, according to the analysis by the Wall Street Journal, citing the Treasury Department’s daily financial statements.

The increase—$154 billion—comes even as DOGE, led by Elon Musk, touts $150 billion in cost savings through job cuts, contract terminations, and the rollback of diversity and aid programs.

  • technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    983·
    6 days ago

    Imagine believing that fascism has anything to do with saving money.

    This kind of credulous reporting is a huge part of why we have fascism.

    • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.worldEnglish
      44·
      6 days ago

      Musks only intent, from the get go, wasnt cutting costs/saving money/fixing waste.

      His only intent was to undermind, disarm, and dismantle the agencies that were either actively investigating him, or held power to do so.

    • Olgratin_Magmatoe@slrpnk.netEnglish
      28·
      6 days ago

      My mom’s been bitching about how she can’t pay for her water bill because of immigrants. Meanwhile the city is just trying to play catch up on infrastructure that’s been neglected for decades.

      Her bill isn’t going to get any cheaper, but hey, at least everyone gets to fear for their lives now.

      • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.worldEnglish
        20·
        6 days ago

        “God damn immigrants made my local government not do its necessary maintenance and upgrades for over 20 years, making me have to pay 20 extra dollars a month! GODDAMN THEM!”

        • Olgratin_Magmatoe@slrpnk.netEnglish
          19·
          6 days ago

          Pretty fucking much. I’ve been arguing with her about (I know it’s a waste of time but here I am).

          Her evidence:

          • Some dude from the water company 10 years ago said her bills were high because of immigrants
          • Some right wing fuckwad posted a video on rumble interviewing who the fuck knows who, in NYC (we don’t live in NYC), saying that the government was paying for them to have hotels and food

          Mine:

          • 9 fucking audits of the water company’s spending
          • a report from the auditor general of the state examining the neglect of the water system

          But hey, “we each get to have our own conclusion” so fuck me I guess.

          • A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.worldEnglish
            18·
            6 days ago

            I swear, ever since Obama won the presidency, I feel like the collective intelligence of the country plummeted, cause even the closet racists and “enlightened centrists” gave up any semblence of rationality to lean hard into the racism… Which trump them came in and threw jet fuel on and lit with thermite.

            • ERROR: Earth.exe has crashed@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
              51·
              6 days ago

              gave up any semblence of rationality

              Its funny to see how even though my brother is a racist that doesn’t like Black People and Mexicans, he still voted Harris out of self-interest. Guess there are still bigots that aren’t totally braindead.

              (For context: We’re non-white Naturalized Citizens and working class)