DOE among DOGE’s top cost-cutters: Here’s how it slashed over $500M from the education department - The Times of India

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has announced that it has uncovered approximately $55 billion in savings through a series of cost-cutting initiatives. According to a statement on its official website, these savings stem from multiple strategies, including reducing the federal workforce, renegotiating or canceling leases and contracts, selling assets, eliminating grants, implementing regulatory savings, and making various programmatic changes across government agencies.
One of the most significant cost-saving efforts reported by DOGE was the dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which resulted in approximately $6.5 billion in contract savings. This decision, carried out swiftly in the first month of Musk’s tenure, effectively reduced federal aid programs that provide food and assistance to global communities in need.
Following USAID, the Department of Education emerged as one of the top contributors to the savings, with nearly $502 million reportedly recovered through program cuts and restructuring efforts. Another agency that saw substantial savings was the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which faced workforce and administrative budget reductions.

Breakdown of savings from the Department of Education

DOGE has published a list of its savings sources, stating that its overall savings come from a mix of fraud detection, contract and lease cancellations, renegotiations, asset sales, grant cancellations, workforce reductions, programmatic changes, and regulatory savings. To provide transparency, the agency included a “wall of receipts,” detailing specific contracts that were eliminated and the corresponding savings for each department.
In the Department of Education, savings were achieved by discontinuing various data collection and research programs. The following table highlights the top 10 programs where significant cost reductions were made:

Title	Amount Saved	Description
2023-24 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS)	$54,798,900	2023-24 NPSAS is a cross-sectional study providing info on the costs of postsecondary education and how students and families pay for these costs.
The High School And Beyond Longitudinal Study	$54,274,065	The High School and Beyond Longitudinal Study of 2020 (HS&B:20) is a large, complex data collection used to follow and study high school students throughout their high school careers.
The Design And Conduct Of The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study	$48,429,578	The Design and Conduct of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2022 through 2023, provides important info on early learning, preschool, early care and education experiences, and the transition into kindergarten.
Ed Facts Data And Dissemination Support Services	$31,053,150	ED Facts Data and Dissemination Support Services
2019-20 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study	$27,744,830	2019-20 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS 2020) is designed to describe how students and families finance postsecondary education and their persistence, attainment, and workforce outcomes.
First International Studies Consolidated National Contract Program	$26,014,048	First International Studies Consolidated National Contract Program for international assessments like PISA, PIRLS, and PIAAC. PIRLS focuses on fourth graders’ reading skills, PISA assesses 15-year-olds in literacy, math, and science, while PIAAC evaluates adults’ basic skills.
This Contract Is To Conduct An Implementation And Impact Evaluation Study Of Transition Services For Students With Disabilities	$22,474,868	This contract conducts an evaluation study of transition services for students with disabilities, specifically focusing on how these services affect post-high school outcomes.
Digital Modernization Program Management Office Support	$18,808,185	Digital Modernization Program Management Office Support
What Works Clearinghouse Supporting And Analyzing Grantee Evaluations	$17,849,220	What Works Clearinghouse Supporting and Analyzing Grantee Evaluations (WWC-SAGE)
Education Demographic And Geographic Estimates (Edge)	$17,188,194	Education Demographic and Geographic Estimates (EDGE) Geospatial IT (GEOIT) Support

Questions over DOGE’s transparency and accountability

Despite its claimed success in reducing federal spending, DOGE’s reporting has raised concerns about accountability and transparency. Unlike traditional government departments, DOGE operates as an office within the White House, making it less susceptible to oversight from federal watchdog agencies, including inspectors general.
Furthermore, Elon Musk’s leadership in DOGE has sparked debate over potential conflicts of interest. Musk’s company, SpaceX, has received billions in federal contracts, leading to questions about whether his role in overseeing government efficiency efforts presents a conflict. While former President Trump has defended Musk, stating that he will “police himself” regarding any ethical concerns, Musk’s financial disclosures remain classified and will not be made publicly available.
With growing scrutiny surrounding DOGE’s self-reported savings and its methodology, critics argue that independent audits may be necessary to validate the accuracy of its figures. As the agency continues to cut costs across federal programs, the long-term impact of these savings, particularly in sectors like education and international aid, remains to be seen.
For a detailed breakdown of the DOGE cuts, check here.

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