FACT CHECK: Musk’s D.O.G.E. Burned Through $21.7 BILLION — Elon Spent FAR MORE Than He Saved
🚨 FACT CHECK: Musk’s “DOGE” Reform Wasted $21.7 BILLION — In Just 6 Months
Welcome back to The Josh Lafazan Show, where we pull back the curtain on corruption, chaos, and billion-dollar blunders that too often get swept under the rug.
Today’s episode is about one of the most expensive government failures in modern American history — and yes, it involves Elon Musk.
You’ve probably heard about DOGE — the Department of Government Efficiency.
It was pitched as a genius plan to save taxpayer money, trim waste, and bring “tech world innovation” to Washington.
Instead? It wasted $21.7 BILLION in less than half a year — and you’re paying the price.
Let’s unpack what happened, how it got this bad, and what comes next.
🧯 SEGMENT 1: What Is DOGE — And Why Was Musk In Charge?
DOGE was Elon Musk’s brainchild.
After endorsing Trump in 2024, Musk was handed sweeping authority to “reform” the federal government — without ever being confirmed by the Senate or held publicly accountable.
He got access to the VA, FEMA, HHS, USDA, and even the IRS. His mission? Slash waste and make government “efficient.”
But it turns out, governing isn’t like building an app. And “moving fast and breaking things” broke things that matter — like disaster relief and veterans’ care.
💸 SEGMENT 2: How DOGE Wasted Billions
The numbers are jaw-dropping.
🔻 $23.8 billion in spending
🔺 Only $2.1 billion in actual savings
💥 Net waste: $21.7 billion
Where did the money go?
15,000+ federal workers laid off, only to be replaced by overpriced contractors
$6 billion to consultants, many with zero government experience
Essential offices like FEMA field units and WIC clinics shut down, then reopened — at higher costs
Legal fees soared as unions and civil rights groups sued the government
DOGE promised savings — but delivered chaos and cost overruns.
📉 SEGMENT 3: “Savings” That Hurt More Than They Helped
Elon Musk promised DOGE would save $1 trillion per year.
In reality? Just $2.1 billion — and those savings came with massive consequences.
IRS refunds delayed by 22%
VA claims backlogged by 38%
School lunch delivery disrupted for 5 million kids
FEMA funding mismanaged ahead of hurricane season
This wasn’t “efficiency.” It was austerity dressed in tech-speak — and families paid the price.
🚪 SEGMENT 4: Who Got Hurt
This wasn’t just a budget mess. Real people suffered.
👨⚕️ Veterans lost access to medical specialists
👩🌾 Farmers went without vital subsidies
🌪 Disaster victims waited weeks for help
👵 Seniors missed Social Security payments
👩👧 Mothers were turned away from shuttered food clinics
Musk’s cuts weren’t surgical — they were reckless. And Americans across the country were left to clean up the mess.
🟦 SEGMENT 5: How Democrats Are Fighting Back
Democrats are stepping in to restore sanity:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren: Bill to ban billionaires from overseeing federal departments
Rep. Jamie Raskin: Hearings into DOGE corruption and cost
Sen. Cory Booker: “Public Accountability Act” — forces independent review before any reform rolls out
Multiple committees are investigating Musk’s no-bid contracts and conflicts of interest
This isn’t just about Elon Musk. It’s about how much damage one unelected person can do without oversight.
⚠️ SEGMENT 6: It Was Never About “Efficiency”
Let’s be honest: DOGE was never a reform. It was a political stunt.
Musk had unchecked power to:
Fire public servants
Restructure agencies
Spend billions
— all without Senate confirmation.
This was Trump’s dream — a government run by cronies and megadonors, not professionals.
And unless we speak up, it won’t be the last time.
🗳️ SEGMENT 7: What Happens Next — And Why You Should Care
Here’s what’s at stake:
$21.7 billion already gone
Essential services damaged
Trump and Musk still calling it a success
And no one held accountable… yet
So what can we do?
Demand public hearings
Vote for transparency in 2026
Make sure this never happens again
Because if government becomes a playground for billionaires, it stops working for the people.
🎬 OUTRO – ON CAMERA
DOGE was a disaster.
Not a tech miracle. Not a reform success.
Just reckless, costly chaos masquerading as innovation.
We deserve better.
Better leadership.
Better oversight.
And better respect for the American taxpayer.