Federal spending is surging despite DOGE’s aggressive cuts, climbing 6% year over year in Trump’s first months. Meanwhile, the true cost of layoffs, legal fights, and rehiring may be costing the taxpayers more than the cuts themselves.

The cost-cutting team has ripped through the government, shuttering agencies, laying off workers, and canceling billions of dollars worth of contracts. According to DOGE’s official website, the department, which is unofficially headed by billionaire Musk, has saved the government approximately $160 billion.

However, those reported savings have yet to produce much meaningful reduction in overall government spending this year, according to the nonpartisan Penn Wharton Budget Model, which monitors weekly Treasury data.