More than once, somebody most of us know and love has said that the most ironic outcome is the most likely. But I’ll stop there.
Yes, it is a bit ironic that Elon Musk has an office in the White House down the hall from the Oval Office, and yes, it’s also ironic that some liberals are spending every Saturday for the last month carrying around signs asking people to boycott Tesla.
Now, if you told me just last year that this would happen, I would think it was a joke.
Elon has come out in support of Donald Trump within about the last eight months or so, not even the last 12 months. And it’s only in recent months that I’ve seen Republicans announce in droves that they’re purchasing a Tesla vehicle or truck.
Neither of these things are what most of us expected.
But how we deal with the reality is very telling. First of all, if you do lean left, violence is not the answer. Tesla has been firebombed, their stores have been shot up, and employees have been threatened.
This doesn’t sound like a nonviolent response. But that is indeed the response of the left.
What is the response of the right? Do you think everybody on the right really wanted Elon Musk right there beside Trump? Probably not. But I’ve noticed people from the right interested in learning about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), ask questions, open up a dialogue. And this has led to a good outcome.
Regardless of what people think or do, or however they may threaten Elon Musk, I’m confident that he will continue to relentlessly work to make our government more efficient as far as A. Technological processes and B. How your tax money is being spent.
Well, let’s take a brief look at the work DOGE has done from Day 73 of Week 11 through Day 76 of Week 12, focusing on the latter part of Week 11 and the transition into the next week. Meanwhile, I hope you’ll carefully think over your response to Elon Musk, especially if you’re left-leaning. I hope you’ll have an open mind and use your critical thinking powers, take a breather, and just solely focus on what DOGE is really doing. You’ll find what DOGE is doing in my blog posts starting from week one. And I will report on DOGE every week for you. My goal is to alleviate your fears, to bring you to a place of appreciation for what Elon is doing.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues its mission to eliminate government waste, with significant contract terminations, grant cancellations, and technological upgrades, totaling $213.5M in savings across these days.
Key Updates:
Day 73 (Week 11): $87.5M in Wasteful Contracts Terminated, Including $3.4M for “Aviation Advisors in Kenya”
Agencies canceled 47 wasteful contracts with a $87.5M ceiling value, saving $30.2M. This included a $3.4M State Department management consulting contract for “aviation advisors in Kenya.”
Context: The “aviation advisors in Kenya” contract was part of a broader State Department initiative to support international aviation policy, and DOGE flagged it as non-essential, aligning with their goal to redirect funds to core government functions. This follows a 2024 GAO report highlighting $500M in questionable State Department consulting contracts.
Day 74 (Week 11): $25M in DEI Grants Canceled, Saving $15M @US_IMLS and @Sonderling47 canceled $25M in wasteful DEI grants, saving $15M. This included:
- $265K for Queens College in New York to research “why BIPOC teens” read Japanese comic books.
- $250K to erect “LGBTQ+ historical markers” across Ohio.
- $140K for the University of South Carolina to create “safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals” in libraries.
- $400K for the University of Tennessee to study “LGBTQ+ library users’ metadata.”
- $105K to California Association of Museums to address “systemic racism” in museums.
- $6.7M for the California State Library to “enhance equitable library programs.”
- $1.5M to Connecticut State Library system to “integrate social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion” into their daily work.
Context: The cancellation of $25M in DEI grants aligns with what Americans voted for. We saw the EPA’s March 2025 termination of $1.7B in similar grants. The Queens College study on BIPOC teens and manga was part of an IMLS-funded project launched in January 2025, led by Dr. Joe Sanchez. Ohio’s $250K for LGBTQ+ historical markers aimed to honor Summit Station, a lesbian bar in Columbus, previously recognized in 2023. The California State Library’s $6.7M grant was tied to a collaborative effort with Califa and Marin County Free Libraries, focusing on racial equity in library operations. This move by DOGE reflects a pattern of meticulously looking at DEI initiatives, following a 2024 trend where 20 states introduced bills to limit such programs in public institutions.
x.com/DOGE/status/1907811517623324906
Day 75 (Week 11): $1M Saved by Modernizing USGS Data Storage. The United States General Services Administration IT team saved $1M per year by converting 14,000 magnetic tapes (70-year-old technology for information storage) to permanent modern digital records.
Context: This modernization effort by the USGS IT team marks a significant leap in government efficiency, addressing a long-standing issue of outdated data storage. Magnetic tapes, used since the 1950s, were costly to maintain and prone to degradation, risking the loss of critical geological data. The transition to digital records not only saves $1M annually but also ensures data integrity for future research, aligning with DOGE’s mission to bring government technology into the 21st century. This achievement echoes a 2023 NARA report urging federal agencies to phase out obsolete storage methods.
x.com/DOGE/status/1908261360565194834
Day 76 (Week 12): $124M in Wasteful Contracts Terminated, Including $1.9M for “Global Advisory in Palau”
Agencies terminated 63 wasteful contracts with a $124M ceiling value, saving $39M. This included a $1.25M @HHSGov marketing consultant contract for “Google AdWords management” and a $1.9M @StateDept consulting contract for “global advisory and support services” for the Republic of Palau in the Micronesia region.
Context: The $1.9M contract for “global advisory in Palau” was part of State Department efforts to bolster U.S. influence in the Pacific, and DOGE deemed it non-essential given Palau’s small population of 18,000 and limited strategic impact. The $1.25M HHS contract for Google AdWords management was flagged as redundant, as in-house marketing teams could handle such tasks, reflecting DOGE’s focus on eliminating duplicative spending. This action builds on a 2024 HHS audit revealing $300M in mismanaged advertising contracts.
Impact:
DOGE’s efforts from Day 73 to Day 76 have saved $213.5M in total, with $30.2M from Day 73 contracts, $15M from Day 74 DEI grants, $1M annually from Day 75’s USGS tech upgrade, and $39M from Day 76 contracts. The April 4th modernization of 14,000 magnetic tapes at USGS stands out as a monumental step, replacing 70-year-old technology and ensuring data preservation while cutting costs.
The Doge Diaries:
Driving past a paid protest recently, I saw a sign claiming “Elon Musk is running the country.” It’s a wild misconception, but it reflects the charged atmosphere we’re in. Misinformation, like chants of “Hands off our Medicaid, hands off Social Security,” fuels fear at these protests, yet DOGE’s work—like the groundbreaking April 4th USGS upgrade saving $1M yearly by digitizing 14,000 magnetic tapes—shows a focus on efficiency, not cuts to vital programs. I’m committed to showing both sides, especially to left-leaning readers, that DOGE’s mission is about better governance, not harm.
The protest I witnessed reflects a broader wave of public unrest in 2025, with over 50 major demonstrations nationwide since January, often fueled by misinformation about government reforms and financed by liberal groups tied to George Soros. DOGE’s focus on efficiency, like modernizing USGS data storage, counters these fears by demonstrating tangible improvements in government operations without touching core social programs.
Previous Weeks:
Catch up on DOGE’s journey with our previous articles:
Context: DOGE’s Week 11, Part 1 reported $1.4B in recovered COVID-era funds and $420M in savings, setting the stage for the continued momentum seen in Part 2. This link provides a comprehensive look at DOGE’s earlier efforts, which have gained attention from both supporters and critics on X.
Source:
DOGE’s X account and related posts
DOGE’s X account has become a primary source for real-time updates on government efficiency efforts, amassing over 500K followers by April 2025. The account’s transparency has sparked debates, with some praising its accountability and others questioning its focus on certain programs like DEI.
What's Up Doge? 
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