By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Trump and Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) falsely claims $55 billion in savings, primarily from contract cancellations, rather than genuine efficiency improvements. These cancellations disproportionately impact veteran-owned small businesses, including those providing crucial services like veteran support and energy-saving programs. DOGE’s actions inflate savings figures through accounting manipulations and disregard for the consequences of service disruptions. The result is not cost savings, but harm to veterans and a demonstrably inefficient government.
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Trump and Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was launched with the stated goal of rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse in government spending. However, the reality paints a drastically different picture. Instead of uncovering widespread fraud, DOGE’s actions have primarily resulted in the cancellation of numerous government contracts, disproportionately affecting veterans and veteran-owned businesses.
The claim of billions of dollars in savings is largely a mirage. Many of the canceled contracts were for services already mostly paid for, inflating the apparent savings. In other instances, DOGE appears to have simply cancelled contracts, regardless of their importance or the impact on service providers, presenting a manipulated picture of fiscal responsibility. This isn’t a genuine effort at efficiency; it’s a deceptive accounting trick that masks the true cost – a cost borne primarily by veterans.
A significant number of contracts terminated by DOGE were held by small businesses owned by veterans or those with service-related disabilities. These businesses provided essential services to federal agencies, including training programs, project management assistance, and support for critical initiatives like the Green Proving Ground program, which demonstrably saved millions in energy costs annually. Cancelling these contracts not only undermines these businesses but also negatively impacts the vital services they provide.
The impact extends beyond economic hardship. The arbitrary cancellation of a lease for a Las Cruces, New Mexico Vet Center, a vital resource for veterans struggling with post-service challenges, exemplifies the callous disregard for the well-being of those who served their country. The relocation of this center to a distant facility, several hours away, severely limits accessibility to crucial mental health services and support. This is not about saving money; it’s about dismantling essential services, leaving veterans vulnerable and without adequate support.
The cancellation of subscriptions to news services and directory systems also highlights a worrying trend. These services are essential for government employees to effectively perform their duties. DOGE’s actions will likely increase the time and resources required to access critical information, undermining efficiency and productivity across government agencies. This cuts deeper than simply hindering information access; it hampers the effective operation of the government itself.
Further exacerbating the situation is the troubling pattern of DOGE’s actions. After purging contracts at various federal agencies, including the USDA and the National Nuclear Security Administration, DOGE is now targeting the Department of Defense. Considering the Department of Defense is one of the nation’s largest employers of veterans, the potential for further harm to veterans and veteran-owned businesses is substantial. The sheer scale of the potential job losses further underscores the devastating impact of DOGE’s actions.
The actions of DOGE, therefore, reveal a disturbing pattern: a calculated effort to portray fiscal responsibility while simultaneously harming veterans and veteran-owned businesses. The claims of vast savings are misleading, based on flawed calculations and a disregard for the consequences of contract cancellations. The lack of transparency and the disproportionate impact on veterans strongly suggest a deliberate attempt to undermine essential services and create an illusion of efficiency at a severe cost to a vulnerable population. The purported goal of eliminating waste and fraud has instead served as a cover for a far more destructive agenda. The apparent absence of genuine fraud uncovered only underscores the deeply cynical nature of DOGE’s operations.
Instead of finding widespread fraud, DOGE has found ways to harm veterans. This is not a coincidence, but the logical outcome of a strategy deliberately designed to eliminate support for those who have served their nation. The actions of DOGE expose a concerning lack of concern for the well-being of veterans and a blatant disregard for the principles of responsible governance. The ultimate consequence is not improved efficiency, but damage to essential services and a chilling message to those who have sacrificed for their country.