Federal Agencies Cancel 43 Wasteful Contracts, Save $222 Million Under DOGE Initiative

Key Facts

Published: December 8, 2025 Location: Washington D.C. Source: DOGE

• 43 federal contracts terminated or descoped
• $222 million saved from cancellations
• $214 billion saved overall under DOGE
• DOGE pushes back on shutdown rumors, calls Reuters report “fake news”

by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

WASHINGTON D.C. (Worthy News) – Federal agencies have canceled or significantly scaled back 43 wasteful government contracts worth a combined ceiling value of $3.5 billion, saving taxpayers $222 million, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced in a Dec. 6 post on X.

Among the terminated contracts was a $4.3 million Department of Treasury IT project intended to “develop a comprehensive strategic narrative and management approach aimed at the Human Centered Transformation and Enhanced Partnerships.” A $29 million Department of Commerce consulting agreement for staffing and project management support was also scrapped.

DOGE says the broader initiative has saved $214 billion as of Oct. 4—amounting to more than $1,329 per taxpayer—through asset sales, workforce reductions, regulatory rollbacks, interest savings, fraud elimination, and canceled grants. The Department of Health and Human Services accounts for the most savings, followed by the GSA, SSA, OPM, and SBA.

The agency recently rebutted rumors that it was being shut down, labeling a Reuters story that implied its dissolution “fake news.” The confusion followed remarks by OPM Director Scot Kupor, who later said his quote had been selectively edited.

Former DOGE head Elon Musk also addressed the rumors in an Oct. 31 interview with podcaster Joe Rogan, saying the initiative continues to reduce fraud and waste even though it receives less attention since his departure in May.

“They don’t really have a person to attack anymore,” Musk said, noting that threats against him escalated dramatically while he ran the effort.

DOGE highlighted several examples of “baffling” federal spending uncovered during audits, including an $814,000 HHS grant studying how “intersectional stigma” affects blood pressure and an $801,000 grant examining structural racism and discrimination in older men’s health.

Latest Worthy News