In this post, Ben Brunjes, a professor of Public Policy at the University of Washington, reviews DOGE’s spending cuts. DOGE claims $68.2 billion in savings from terminated contracts and grants. This number represents 72 percent of the total amount DOGE claims to have cut from federal spending. But Professor Brunjes also notes that from 2017-2024, USAID averaged about $18.8 billion per year in grant and contract spending. Thus, DOGE is essentially claiming it has cut four years of USAID spending in two months. Professor Brunjes thinks DOGE’s numbers are questionable.
Reforming the Federal Contracts and Grants System
Trending Now
Acquisition Transformation Strategy • Bridging the Gap Between Authority and Execution in Transforming the Warfighting Acquisition Workforce • If the Pentagon Wants More Speed and Scale, It Should Be a Better Customer • FAR Overhaul Fallout: Introducing the FAR Companion Guide & Practitioner Albums • What Experts Will Watch as the Pentagon Implements Acquisition Reform
Majority of DOGE’s Savings Come from the Elimination of USAID
Track federal procurement transformation with daily updates on DOGE, agency reform, and policy changes with our Transforming Procurement newsletter, delivering up-to-the-minute intelligence Monday–Saturday — Subscribe here.