Many of the receipts published by Elon Musk’s DOGE aren’t receipts at all — they’re negotiated deals with vetted vendors who might do future government work.

Summary

DOGE has claimed billions in savings by canceling contracts, but many were blanket purchase agreements (BPAs), which set negotiated rates for potential future purchases rather than actual spending.

Canceling BPAs does not save money and may hinder efficiency, as agencies must redo procurement work.

DOGE’s claims face growing scrutiny, with reports showing 40% of cuts yield no savings.

Meanwhile, lawsuits question the agency’s legality, and confusion remains over its leadership, with Trump insisting Elon Musk is in charge.