The government efficiency department, the famous Doge, was conceived as a surgical machine capable of eliminating each corner of inefficiency of the federal system of the United States. Its promoter, Trump himself, assured that Elon MuskExecutive Director of Tesla and Spacex and owner of the social media platform X, was the perfect man to cut the waste. And Musk, how could it be otherwise, accepted the challenge with enthusiasm. He promised historical pruning to save $ 4,000 million every day. But the numbers do not fit and four months laterTrump’s administration spending is on its way to overcoming Joe Biden.
United States spends more than ever
So far from 2025, federal expenditure has grown by 7.4% compared to last year. Far from any reduction, The United States is spending more than ever. Even during the first quarter of 2024, when Biden still ruled, such a pronounced rise was seen.
According to the most recent report of the Congress Budget Office (CBO), the Federal Budget Deficit reached 1.3 billion dollars in the first half of fiscal year 2025. That supposes An increase of 245,000 million Regarding the same period of the previous fiscal year. This is because federal expenses grew by 10%, that is, 317,000 million dollars, while revenues only increased by 3% (71,000 million). In addition, only in the first quarter of 2025, the expense was 139,000 million higher than the same period in 2024 and indebtedness grew by 41,000 million.
Even so, Doge claims to have saved 130,000 million since January. But this data does not resist the slightest scrutiny. Between Duplications of cuts, rounding errors and ghost cancellationssupposed savings may be nothing more than smoke. Some independent reports estimate that Doge has barely cut 2,000 million net. A drop in a federal spending ocean.
Russell Vought, an ideologist in the shadow, takes control
Musk, who used to walk through the corridors of the White House as if they were those of Tesla, has begun to release ballast. Since May, he will only dedicate one or two days a week to Doge. The reason, unofficial, seems quite clear: Tesla see dog. The actions have lost more than 50% since December and the benefits have fallen by 71%. The priority has changed.
And then who is in charge of Doge? Here Russell Vought enters the scene. Little known outside the hardest political circle, Vought is actually The ideologist in the shadow. Since the 1990s he has been preaching a fiscal gospel based on the reduction of the State, conservative culture and budget efficiency.
VOUGHT does not walk with rodeos. His vision is clear. Believes that many agencies are Ideological enemies of the conservative project. Not only wants to cut their funds, he wants to dismantle them completely. Its strategy is to empty the federal apparatus, eliminating personnel, functions and structures. He has already done it before. From the Office of Management and Budget facilitated cuts that left key agencies in a vegetative state.
Now, with Musk lowering the rhythm, Trump has said that Voucht will take the helm. The truth is that he has already done it. The idea of Project 2025, a plan for the State conservative restructuringIt is yours. His ‘Think Tank’, the Center for Renewing America, is the hard core of this bureaucratic offensive. He does not boast in networks. It does not appear in memes. But while Musk tweet, Vought executes.
Institutional demands and chaos
However, the context is hostile. Doge faces thousands of demands for Dirregular spid, unilateral cancellations of contracts and actions outside the legal framework. Some courts have already stopped several of their movements. In parallel, the agencies begin to function aimlessly, many without leadership or structure.
The most striking thing is that not even real cuts seem well oriented. He has attacked scientific, researchers and health agencies. Departments that, in many cases, have a positive economic return. Every dollar invested in health generates two or three return. In research, the relationship can be five to one. And yet, they have been the first victims.
The IRS, the Tax Agency, has also been partially dismantled. Musk argues that auditing less is saving, but Each audit to rich taxpayers returns on average twelve dollars for each dollar invested. Cutting here is not efficiency, it is loss. But that does not seem to import Doge.
And the alleged great pruning of the Department of Education? No trace. What has been a change of name, a transfer of competences and no budget alteration. One more illusionism.
The cuts, when they are made, seem more motivated by ideological issues How economical. Some contracts have been canceled for containing words such as “trans” or “inclusive.” Not because of its profitability or real impact. He shoots first and wonders later.
Meanwhile, the promise to save 4,000 million daily is diluted as smoke. Treasury data does not lie. The expense grows, the deficit does not fall and the doge wobbles. Musk leaves. VOUGHT takes command. And the State remains as great, but more disorganized than ever.
