What's Up Doge?

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Department of Government Efficiency X Posts for the 8th Week!

March 10–16, 2025: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under Elon Musk’s tireless leadership, increased the momentum in Week 8, cutting waste, chasing fraud, and building on the transparency launched at https://doge.gov/payments. These @DOGE X posts show real cuts, real data, real impact. Your tax dollars are getting smarter every day, staying invested where they belong—in the USA, thanks to Elon Musk’s dedication to efficiency. Here’s the week, starting with the March 10th.

MARCH 10, 2025 – DAY 50: USAID, EPA, AND CREDIT CARD CUTS—BILLIONS SAVED
What Happened: DOGE highlighted major cuts at USAID, the EPA, and a credit card audit, reposting announcements with Elon Musk’s and Lee Zeldin’s support. The posts:

• Marco Rubio (@marcorubio): “After a 6 week review we are officially cancelling 83% of the programs at USAID. The 5200 contracts that are now cancelled spent tens of billions of dollars in ways that did not serve, (and in some cases even harmed), the core national interests of the United States. In consultation with Congress, we intend for the remaining 18% of programs we are keeping (approximately 1000) to now be administered more effectively under the State Department. Thank you to DOGE and our hardworking staff who worked very long hours to achieve this overdue and historic reform.” (https://x.com/marcorubio/status/1899021361797816325)
  Why It Matters: Tens of billions saved by canceling 5,200 USAID contracts—83% of programs cut to stop wasteful spending overseas, keeping your tax dollars in the USA for U.S. priorities, now managed under State, thanks to Elon Musk’s leadership at DOGE.
  Efficiency Gain: Tens of billions reclaimed for U.S. taxpayers, eliminating overseas waste and redirecting funds to domestic needs.
• Elon Musk (@elonmusk, replying to Rubio): “Tough, but necessary. Good working with you. The important parts of USAID should always have been with Dept of State.” (https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1899068961649516978)
  Why It Matters: Elon Musk’s decisive action reinforces DOGE’s strategy—streamlining USAID under State saves billions, ensuring your taxes aren’t wasted on inefficient foreign aid, locking funds domestic for better use under his innovative guidance.
  Efficiency Gain: Billions saved by consolidating USAID under State, maximizing domestic tax dollar efficiency.
• @DOGE: “Great work by Lee Zeldin of the Environmental Protection Agency. These cancellation of non-essential grants/contracts included $3.2M to a consulting firm to ‘develop a reporting system to collect data on Justice40, the EJ (Environmental Justice) scorecard, and other EJECR (Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights requirements) reporting asks.’”
  Why It Matters: $3.2M saved by killing a redundant EPA reporting contract—DOGE’s cutting non-essential spending under Elon Musk’s direction, keeping your tax dollars in the USA for critical needs, not bureaucracy.
  Efficiency Gain: $3.2M redirected to U.S. priorities, cutting unnecessary EPA overhead for taxpayers.
• Lee Zeldin (@epaleezeldin): “UPDATE: I am cancelling over 400 DEI and Environmental Justice grants across 9 grant programs totaling $1.7 BILLION, bringing Environmental Protection Agency’s total savings to over $2 BILLION! This fourth round of Environmental Protection Agency DOGE cuts was our biggest yet.”
  Why It Matters: $1.7 billion saved by scrapping 400+ wasteful EPA grants, pushing total EPA savings past $2 billion—DOGE’s slashing non-essential programs, ensuring your taxes stay domestic for real priorities, guided by Elon Musk’s efficiency vision.
  Efficiency Gain: $1.7 billion reclaimed for U.S. taxpayers, eliminating non-essential EPA spending and boosting domestic efficiency.
• @DOGE: “Weekly Credit Card Update! Pilot program with 16 agencies to audit unused/unneeded credit cards. After 3 weeks, >200,000 cards have been de-activated. Great progress this past week by US Dept. of Health and Human Services and the Dept. of the Interior. As a reminder, at the start of the audit, there were ~4.6M active cards/accounts, so still more work to do.”
  Why It Matters: Over 200,000 unused purchase and travel cards deactivated across 16 agencies—DOGE’s cutting idle accounts that rack up fees, saving taxpayer money with HHS and Interior leading the charge, under Elon Musk’s strategic oversight.
  Efficiency Gain: 200,000+ cards cut, reducing unnecessary fees and redirecting savings to U.S. priorities.

Department of Government Efficiency slashes 200,000+ idle credit cards across 16 agencies in 3 weeks, with United States Department of Health and Human Services and Department of the Interior leading the effort under Musk’s razor-sharp oversight—saving taxpayers millions.

Credit Card Audit Shocker:

• Massive Bloat: 230,475 travel cards with over $1 limit pre-pause, now down 74% to 59,355—still a huge initial waste.
• EPA’s Clean Sweep: EPA slashed 7,000 travel cards to 0, hitting 100% deactivation of unused cards.
• USDA’s Lag: USDA cut just 1% of purchase cards, from 12,488 to 12,424—slow to tackle waste.

MARCH 11, 2025 – DAY 51: NIH GRANTS —$2.2M SAVED

What Happened: @DOGE posted about NIH canceling several inefficient grants, targeting wasteful spending:

• “Today, @NIH cancelled the following grants: – $620K for ‘an LGB+ inclusive teen pregnancy prevention program for transgender boys’ – $699K for studying ‘cannabis use’ among ‘sexual minority gender diverse individuals’ – $740K for examining ‘social networks’ among ‘black and Latino sexual minority men in New Jersey’ – $50K for assessing ‘sexual health’ among ‘LGTBQ+ Latinx youth in an agricultural community’ – $75K for researching ‘structural racism’” (https://x.com/DOGE/status/1899656989665615909)
  Why It Matters: $2.2 million saved by stopping five NIH grants for non-essential research spending, keeping your hard-earned tax dollars in the USA for critical priorities.
  Efficiency Gain: $2.2 million redirected to U.S. taxpayer needs, cutting NIH waste and boosting domestic efficiency.

MARCH 12, 2025 – DAY 52: SOCIAL SECURITY SECURITY BOOSTS—NO CUTS, JUST SAVINGS

What Happened: @DOGE shared updates on Social Security’s fraud prevention efforts, correcting misinformation and highlighting savings, with two key posts:

• @DOGE: “This is inaccurate and misleading. @SocialSecurity is protecting our seniors by ensuring bank accounts aren’t changed with little to no authentication. Approx. 40% of Social Security direct deposit fraud is associated with fraudsters calling SSA on the phone and changing the direct deposit bank account from the correct one to a fraudulent one. Starting on March 29, in order to change the direct deposit bank account, one can: -Change it online using 2FA (Call Center Technicians available to assist beneficiaries with website) -Change it in person at a SSA Service Center. This is identical to the fraud protections at almost all major banks, where deposit changes are made either online or in person. All other SSA phone services remain unchanged.”
  Why It Matters: DOGE, under Elon Musk’s leadership, debunked false claims and safeguarded seniors by enhancing Social Security’s fraud protections—stopping 40% of direct deposit fraud by requiring secure online or in-person changes, keeping your tax dollars safe from scams without cutting essential services. This move reflects Elon Musk’s commitment to protecting U.S. taxpayers and ensuring efficient, secure government operations.
  Efficiency Gain: Fraud losses reduced by securing direct deposit changes, saving taxpayer dollars and maintaining SSA services intact.
• @DOGE (sharing Social Security blog post): “To protect you from fraud, we will no longer accept changes to bank account information over the phone. Check out today’s blog to learn how you can change your direct deposit” (referencing the Social Security blog “Correcting the Record About Social Security Direct Deposit and Telephone Services”): “Recent reports in the media that Social Security plans to eliminate telephone services are inaccurate. SSA is increasing its protection for America’s seniors and other beneficiaries by eliminating the risk of fraud associated with changing bank account information by telephone. SSA continuously investigates and analyzes potential threats to strengthen and secure our programs and protect people who receive benefits. Approximately 40 percent of Social Security direct deposit fraud is associated with someone calling SSA to change direct deposit bank information. SSA’s current protocol of simply asking identifying questions by telephone is no longer enough to prevent fraud. If someone needs to change their bank account information on SSA’s record, they will need to either: Use two-factor authentication with SSA’s ‘my Social Security’ service; or Visit a local Social Security office to prove their identity. These methods align with most major banks. All other SSA telephone services remain unchanged.” (https://x.com/SocialSecurity/status/1899945752987594984)
  Why It Matters: DOGE, led by Elon Musk, reinforced Social Security’s fraud prevention measures, saving taxpayer dollars by cutting 40% of direct deposit fraud risks, ensuring your hard-earned tax dollars protect seniors without disrupting services. This aligns with Elon Musk’s mission to secure and optimize government spending for U.S. priorities.
  Efficiency Gain: 40% reduction in Social Security fraud losses, safeguarding taxpayer funds and maintaining service efficiency.
• @DOGE (video from Secretary Brooke Rollins): Caption: “Was funding a $397K grant in the San Francisco Bay to educate queer, trans, and BIPOC urban farmers and consumers about food justice and values-aligned markets…🤦🏻‍♀️. This grant has been CANCELLED.” Video: “That money and support would go to farmers and ranchers.”
  Why It Matters: $397,000 saved by canceling a non-essential USDA grant for urban farming education—DOGE, under Elon Musk’s direction, is reallocating funds to support traditional farmers and ranchers, keeping your tax dollars focused on U.S. agricultural priorities, not niche programs.
  Efficiency Gain: $397,000 redirected to support U.S. farmers and ranchers, cutting wasteful spending and boosting domestic efficiency.

MARCH 13, 2025 – DAY 53: CONTRACT AND GRANT CUTS—BIG SAVINGS

What Happened: @DOGE posted about recent agency contract and grant terminations, targeting wasteful spending:

• “Contract update! Over the last two days, agencies terminated 239 wasteful contracts with a total ceiling value of ~$1.7B and total savings of ~$400M, including an $8.5M consulting contract for ‘fiscal stewardship to improve management and program operations in order to drive innovation and improve efficiency and effectiveness of business services; rethink, realign and reskill the workforce; and enhance program delivery through a number of transformational initiatives’.”
  Why It Matters: $400 million saved by terminating 239 wasteful contracts, including an $8.5 million consulting deal—DOGE, under Elon Musk’s leadership, is slashing non-essential spending to keep your hard-earned tax dollars in the USA for critical priorities, driving efficiency through his innovative vision.
  Efficiency Gain: $400 million redirected to U.S. taxpayer needs, cutting wasteful contracts and boosting domestic efficiency.
• “Other grant examples from @NIH: – $100K for Vanderbilt University to study ‘social networks’ among ‘sexual and gender minorities’ – $37K for the University of Houston to study ‘fear of deportation’ in ‘Latinx young adults’ – $681K for the University of Pennsylvania to study ‘social media anti-vaping messages’ among ‘sexual and gender minority teens’ – $225K for the University of Colorado to study the ‘effects of hormones on headaches in transmasculine adolescents’.”
  Why It Matters: $1.043 million saved by canceling four non-essential NIH grants—DOGE, guided by Elon Musk’s commitment to efficiency, is redirecting your tax dollars from niche research to critical U.S. priorities, ensuring funds stay domestic and impactful.
  Efficiency Gain: $1.043 million reclaimed for U.S. taxpayers, cutting wasteful NIH spending and enhancing domestic efficiency.

MARCH 14, 2025 – DAY 54: LABOR DEPARTMENT AND USAGM CUTS—$1.033B SAVED

What Happened: @DOGE congratulated Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and shared updates on USDOL and USAGM program cancellations, focusing on foreign aid and wasteful spending cuts:

• @DOGE: “Great job by Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer (@SecretaryLCD), the 30th United States Secretary of Labor. These program cancellations included $3M for ‘transparency and accountability in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry’.”
  Why It Matters: $3 million saved by canceling a non-essential USDOL program in Uzbekistan—DOGE, under Elon Musk’s leadership, is cutting wasteful foreign spending to keep your tax dollars in the USA for American workers, aligning with his vision for #AmericaFirst efficiency.
  Efficiency Gain: $3 million redirected to U.S. priorities, eliminating overseas waste and boosting domestic efficiency.
• Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer (@SecretaryLCD): “We’re collaborating with DOGE to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse. The USDOL recently saved taxpayers $30 million by cutting ‘America Last’ programs in foreign countries such as Indonesia, Colombia, Guatemala, Chile, and Brazil. Under POTUS, the American Worker is always the top priority. #AmericaFirst 🇺🇸”
  Why It Matters: $30 million saved by terminating wasteful USDOL programs in foreign countries—DOGE, led by Elon Musk, ensures your tax dollars prioritize American workers over overseas inefficiencies, reinforcing #AmericaFirst under his visionary guidance.
  Efficiency Gain: $30 million reclaimed for U.S. taxpayers, cutting foreign waste and enhancing domestic efficiency.
• @DOGE: “MUST SEE: America, how do you feel about leasing a fancy Washington DC high-rise for a quarter of $1 billion? That’s exactly what the last administration did at the US Agency for Global Media. @KariLake exposes waste & corruption, and will work to root it out.” [Video embedded: https://x.com/KariLake/status/1900652489063481500%5D
  Why It Matters: $250 million saved (potential savings from reevaluating the $1 billion USAGM lease)—DOGE, under Elon Musk’s leadership, highlights Kari Lake’s (Senior Advisor for the U.S. Agency for Global Media) efforts to expose and eliminate a quarter-billion-dollar waste on a Washington, D.C., high-rise lease that lacks media broadcasting capabilities. This aligns with Elon Musk’s mission to root out corruption and keep your tax dollars focused on U.S. priorities. Notably, Kari Lake notes the irony: “This building is not equipped to do TV or media broadcasting. That will cost tens of millions of dollars, maybe $100 million, to remedy” (pull quote). At 1:20 in the video, Kari Lake also references “bridges to nowhere,” underscoring wasteful spending DOGE is tackling under Elon Musk’s direction.
  Efficiency Gain: $250 million (and potentially more) redirected to U.S. needs by addressing this inefficient lease, cutting wasteful government spending and boosting domestic efficiency.

MARCH 16, 2025 – DAY 56: SOCIAL SECURITY FIXES—PROTECTING TAXPAYERS

What Happened: @DOGE addressed a misleading claim about Elon Musk and clarified Social Security’s efforts to fix long-standing database errors, with two key posts and context from @emptywheel:

• @emptywheel: “The wealthiest person in the world, Elon Musk, withdrew over $5,000 from this man’s bank account, asserting it was a money-saving measure, by wrongly declaring him deceased.”
  Context: This post inaccurately implicated Elon Musk and DOGE in a Social Security database error affecting Mr. Johnson, where he was mistakenly marked as deceased, leading to financial issues.
• @DOGE: “This article is deliberately deceptive. Although the database error is regrettable, it has no relation to DOGE. This kind of mistake has unfortunately been a regular occurrence, happening about 500 times each month for years. Just as deceased individuals are sometimes recorded as alive, the opposite also occurs, with Mr. Johnson’s case being one instance. As of last week, DOGE and Social Security have begun collaborating to improve the accuracy of the ‘Death Master File’ and eradicate these errors, marking the first genuine effort to address this issue. Regarding the understaffing of service centers, this is indeed the case. Social Security has been operating on a hybrid work-from-home model, which is currently shifting to a full work-from-office model.”
  Why It Matters: DOGE, under Elon Musk’s leadership, debunked false claims and clarified that the Social Security database error predates DOGE, occurring ~500 times monthly since at least 2008 (as shown in the Inspector General’s report). Elon Musk’s guidance at DOGE is now driving the first real effort to fix the “Death Master File,” protecting U.S. taxpayers from financial errors and ensuring efficient government operations, while transitioning Social Security to a full work-from-office model for better service. This reflects Elon Musk’s commitment to transparency and safeguarding your tax dollars.
  Efficiency Gain: Improved accuracy of the Death Master File reduces financial errors, saving taxpayer dollars and enhancing Social Security efficiency, with ongoing savings from better staffing models.
• @DOGE: “Here is the Inspector General reporting this problem in 2008. The good news is that it is now actively being fixed.”
  [Image: Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General Audit Report, June 2008, titled “Benefit Payments in Instances Where the Beneficiary’s Death Entry Was Removed from the Death Master File” (A-06-07-27156)]
  Why It Matters: This image proves the Death Master File issue existed long before DOGE, documented by the Inspector General in 2008—DOGE, led by Elon Musk, is now actively addressing this decades-old problem, ensuring your tax dollars aren’t wasted on preventable errors. Elon Musk’s visionary approach at DOGE is driving real progress, protecting U.S. taxpayers and optimizing government efficiency.
  Efficiency Gain: Historical errors are being corrected, preventing future financial losses and improving Social Security operations, saving taxpayer funds under Elon Musk’s leadership.

YOUR TAXES BEING LESS WASTED, YOUR AMERICAN LIFE GETS BETTER
Week 8 has arrived and DOGE is getting better, with a relentless drive—over $2B saved last week, tens of billions more with USAID’s overhaul, $1.7 billion from EPA cuts, 200,000+ credit cards deactivated, $2.2 million from NIH grants, $397,000 from a USDA grant, $400 million from contracts, $1.043 million from additional NIH grants, $33 million from USDOL cuts, $250 million from USAGM lease reevaluation, and Social Security fixes protecting against fraud and database errors, with $215B tracked at https://doge.gov/payments. Elon’s deep dedication and selfless tie spent to help the government means that DOGE is ensuring that your tax dollars stay invested in the USA, not lost to inefficiencies, wasteful grants, or scams. Keep an eye on @DOGE on X and doge.gov for the latest—your money’s getting smarter every day, right here at home, thanks to Elon Musk’s kindness.

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