The Big Government Contracts DOGE Hasn’t Touched

By not targeting major sources of spending like defense, the group has had a minimal impact on the federal budget so far but a big effect on many small companies.

By Emily Badger ,  Aatish Bhatia ,  Josh Katz ,  Margot Sanger-Katz and Ethan Singer

March 4, 2025

Elon Musk and his team of budget cutters have claimed credit for billions of dollars in canceled government contracts. But their initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency, has so far barely touched the biggest sources of contract spending in the federal budget.

2024 spending on federal contracts: $754 bil.

Here’s where the government spends money on contracts, by agency.

Here’s where the government spends money on contracts, by agency.

The DOGE cuts have primarily targeted agencies that spend less.

The DOGE cuts have primarily targeted agencies that spend less.