NEW from me in
@thedispatchmedia.bsky.social. DOGE's most successful program elimination was itself, as it has reportedly closed down.
I explain why its failure to deeply slash spending was so predictable, and what that means for deficits. 🧵
thedispatch.com/article/why-...
Why DOGE Failed to Slash Spending
There are no shortcuts to trimming the federal budget.
The Treasury spending tables suggest DOGE savings perhaps in the neighborhood of $14 billion. This figure represents:
0.2% of the $7 trillion federal budget.
5% of the $275 billion net spending increase in 2025.
0.7% of Elon Musk's $2 trillion goal. 😳
Problem #1: DOGE was conceptually flawed.
2/3 of spending goes to Social Security, Medicare, defense, veterans, & interest that were mostly off the table. Even the remaining 1/3 included spending MAGA likes. So DOGE was left to make small, symbolic cuts to "trigger the libs."
Problem #2: DOGE was incompetent.
Cutting waste is hard enough with top experts. It is nearly impossible with a bunch of 23yo tech bros with no real expertise in public administration, economics, or policy. The resulting gaffes ranged from infuriating to hilarious.
Problem #3: DOGE was often illegal.
Only legislation passed by Congress and signed by the president can cancel enacted spending. Moreover, Musk was never Senate confirmed, confidential data was reportedly accessed, and the courts determined that DOGE regularly broke the law.
Dec 16, 2025 18:13Of course, savings may not have been DOGE's real goal.
- Musk likely got major access to proprietary info and ability to steer contracts.
- Trump got to fire "disloyal" Feds.
- Congress got a distraction while they cut taxes by $5 trillion.
- MAGA voters got "liberal tears."
Ultimately, DOGE was yet another gimmicky attempt to close the $1.8 trillion budget deficit with smoke & mirrors. Sorry, there are no shortcuts. Fixing the budget will require a combination of real benefit cuts, and real tax increases. And not just for your political enemies. /F
