INSIGHTS FROM @DOGE ON X FOR THOSE FEELING FEARFUL AND UNCERTAIN
Continuing our coverage of the fourth week of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, from February 14 to 16, 2025, this part covers the latter half of the week, backdated to February 17, 2025. DOGE’s actions, shared on X via @DOGE, include massive contract cancellations, policy directives, and investigations into inefficiencies, all aimed at boosting efficiency. This blog post helps you understand these updates, addressing concerns you may have, while encouraging engagement.
Daily Breakdown
Here’s what happened each day, based on @DOGE’s X posts, and what it could mean for you.
February 14, 2025 – Day 26: HUD, EPA, and Education Updates
What Happened:
- $1.9 billion of HUD money was recovered after being misplaced, as per the X post: “$1.9 billion of HUD money was just recovered after being misplaced during the Biden administration due to a broken process. These funds were earmarked for the administration of financial services, but were no longer needed. @SecretaryTurner and @DOGE worked together to fix the issue and de-obligated the funds which are now available for other use by the Treasury.”
- EPA cancelled 9 more DEI and Environmental Justice contracts, saving ~$60M, with @DOGE posting, “Great Work!” in response to Lee Zeldin’s post: “In partnership with @DOGE, I just CANCELLED 9 more wasteful @EPA DEI and Environmental Justice contracts, saving American taxpayers another ~$60 MILLION. I’m just warming up! I have ZERO tolerance for even a penny of your hard-earned tax dollars to be wasted or abused.”
- The Department of Education terminated 70 DEI training grants totaling $373M, one training teachers to confront biases, as noted in the X post: “In the last 48 hours, the Department of Education terminated 70 DEI training grants totaling $373M. One trained teachers to “engage in ongoing learning and self-reflection to confront their own biases and racism, and develop asset-based anti-racist mindsets.””
- A letter was sent to all state departments of education to remove DEI programming within 14 days or face loss of federal funding, as per the X post: “This letter was sent to the departments of education in all 50 states, notifying them they have 14 days to remove all DEI programming in all public schools. Institutions which fail to comply may face a loss of federal funding. http://Ed.gov/media/109506“
- 586 wasteful contracts were cancelled, saving $2.1B with $445M in secured savings, including a $8.2M USDA contract, as per the X post: “Roses are red, violets are blue, Today, DOGE and 10 agencies made 586 wasteful contracts bid adieu! With a ceiling value of $2.1B and $445M in savings secured, A perfect Valentine’s gift for all taxpayers—well-earned and deserved! Today’s batch includes a $8.2M USDA contract for “environmental compliance services for the implementation of pilot projects developed under the partnership for climate smart commodities”.”
- Online FAFSA forms were updated to remove the “nonbinary” gender option, with @DOGE noting, “Online FAFSA application forms for student aid are still listing the option to select “nonbinary” for a student’s gender. The US government only recognizes two sexes: Male and Female.” and later confirming it was fixed.
How This Could Unfold: The recovery of HUD funds and cancellation of DEI-related contracts and grants signal a significant shift in policy. The letter to state education departments is interesting, as it could lead to a widespread reduction in DEI programming in public schools. This might be concerning for those who value diversity and inclusion in education, but the savings could be redirected to other priorities.
February 15, 2025 – Day 27: International Project Cancellations and FAR Deviations
What Happened:
- Various international projects and programs were cancelled, including those related to gender equality and environmental justice, as per the X post: “US taxpayer dollars were going to be spent on the following items, all which have been cancelled: – $10M for “Mozambique voluntary medical male circumcision” – $9.7M for UC Berkeley to develop “a cohort of Cambodian youth with enterprise driven skills” – $2.3M for “strengthening independent voices in Cambodia” – $32M to the Prague Civil Society Centre – $40M for “gender equality and women empowerment hub” – $14M for “improving public procurement” in Serbia – $486M to the “Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening,” including $22M for “inclusive and participatory political process” in Moldova and $21M for voter turnout in India – $29M to “strengthening political landscape in Bangladesh” – $20M for “fiscal federalism” in Nepal – $19M for “biodiversity conversation” in Nepal – $1.5M for “voter confidence” in Liberia – $14M for “social cohesion” in Mali – $2.5M for “inclusive democracies in Southern Africa” – $47M for “improving learning outcomes in Asia” – $2M to develop “sustainable recycling models” to “increase socio-economic cohesion among marginalized communities of Kosovo Roma, Ashkali, and Egypt””
- GSA issued FAR deviations to implement key executive orders, including ending illegal discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity, with @DOGE posting, “A first step in reforming the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulation)” in response to: “Effective today, @USGSA issued FAR deviations to implement key @POTUS Executive Orders: ending illegal discrimination, restoring merit-based opportunity, & eliminating forced use of paper straws in procurement. GSA is leading the way & encourages all agencies to follow!”
Why It’s Worth Watching: The cancellation of international projects might be seen as a move to focus more on issues here in America or to reallocate funds more efficiently. The FAR deviations suggest a reform in procurement processes, which could lead to more transparent and fair contracting practices, potentially benefiting taxpayers.
February 16, 2025 – Day 28: Paper Checks and Social Security
What Happened:
- The Treasury is moving to eliminate paper checks to save at least $750 million per year, as per the X post: “A post on…paper checks! -Treasury processed 116 million paper checks in FY2024. -In FY2023, $25 billion in tax refunds were delayed or lost due to returned or expired checks. -Treasury maintains a physical lockbox network to collect checks for tax (IRS), passport (State Department), etc. It costs approximately $2.40 per check to maintain this lockbox network. -Deleting paper checks would save at least $750 million per year.”
- DOGE is looking into potential issues in the Social Security system regarding the number of people listed as alive beyond typical lifespans, in response to Elon Musk’s post: “According to the Social Security database, these are the numbers of people in each age bucket with the death field set to FALSE! Maybe Twilight is real and there are a lot of vampires collecting Social Security.” with @DOGE noting they are investigating.
What It Means for You: Eliminating paper checks is a practical step towards modernization and cost savings, which could benefit the economy overall. The investigation into Social Security numbers might lead to uncovering and correcting fraud, ensuring that the system is fair and sustainable for all beneficiaries, which could be reassuring for those worried about system integrity.
Finding Your Footing—What You Can Do
Part 2 of Week 4 saw DOGE making significant strides in cutting wasteful spending and modernizing systems. If you’re concerned about the impact on diversity, inclusion, or essential services, here’s how to stay engaged:
- Stay Informed: Follow @DOGE on X for direct updates and check out the new website at DOGE Website for transparency features.
- Connect: Share your thoughts with like-minded communities to process these changes together.
- Write Reps: Voice your concerns to elected officials about education, healthcare, and equality.
- Check Back: “DOGE Diaries” will keep you updated every Monday, with Part 1 covering February 10-13 already posted.
A Bit of Reassurance
From massive contract cuts to system overhauls, Part 2 of Week 4 shows DOGE’s commitment to efficiency and fairness. While some changes may be unsettling, staying informed and engaged can help you navigate these shifts. Remember, your input can shape the future direction of these reforms.
DOGE Diaries: Your Weekly Guide to Government Efficiency Updates
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