The newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has wasted no time in cutting down bloated federal spending, terminating 85 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)-related contracts worth approximately $1 billion across multiple federal agencies in just the first 10 days of its operation.
In a post on X, the Department of Government Efficiency confirmed the massive rollback, which spans 24 federal agencies, including the Department of Education, Department of Labor, Treasury, Defense, USDA, Homeland Security, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
“Through 1/29/2025, 85 DEIA-related contracts totaling ~$1B have been terminated within the Dept. of Ed, GSA, OPM, EPA, DoL, Treasury, DoD, USDA, Commerce, DHS, VA, HHS, State, NSF, NRC, NLRB, PBGC, USAID, RRB, SSA, SBA, BLM, CFPB, NPS, and NOAA,” the post read.
The move comes as part of President Trump’s Executive Order on Government Efficiency, signed on Inauguration Day, which established DOGE to streamline operations and rein in wasteful spending. The executive order outlined a sweeping overhaul of federal technology, bureaucratic redundancies, and costly diversity initiatives.
The Department of Government Efficiency, which absorbed the former U.S. Digital Service, has been tasked with eliminating wasteful programs and ensuring that federal agencies prioritize performance over political activism. The immediate action on DEIA-related contracts is the first major sign that the administration is serious about cutting unnecessary federal spending and focusing on efficiency.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) saw one of the most significant cuts, with nearly $500 million in terminated contracts. The Department of Agriculture followed closely behind with over $110 million in canceled spending. Other notable reductions include:
- Department of Homeland Security – $14.9 million
- Department of Health and Human Services – $28.1 million
- Department of Labor – $7.8 million
- Department of Treasury – $25.2 million
- Environmental Protection Agency – $3 million
- Department of Education – $3.8 million
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) – $45 million
According to the executive order, the DOGE initiative will continue to identify and eliminate wasteful government contracts over the next 18 months. The U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization, a specially appointed task force within the White House, will oversee further cuts and reforms, with the mission of ensuring every dollar spent delivers value.
Trump established the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) through an executive order, appointing Elon Musk as its administrator. Despite its name, DOGE is not a federal executive department but a temporary organization under the United States DOGE Service, formerly known as the United States Digital Service. Its primary objective is to modernize federal technology and software to enhance governmental efficiency and productivity.
The acronym “DOGE” is a nod to the popular cryptocurrency Dogecoin, which originated from the “Doge” internet meme featuring a Shiba Inu dog.
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced on Monday that it has placed 60 employees, whose work centered exclusively on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), on administrative leave. Spokesperson Morgan Ackley stated, “laser focused on providing the best possible care and benefits to Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.”
Ackley further emphasized the department’s new direction, stating, “We are proud to have abandoned the divisive DEI policies of the past and pivot back to VA’s core mission.”
