Staggering amount Trump has spent

Despite pledging to reduce government spending, Donald Trump’s administration has significantly increased expenditures. A central part of his campaign was budget cuts, even appointing Elon Musk to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which claims to have saved $160 billion through various measures like contract cancellations and workforce reductions. However, these savings figures are unverified, and critics argue they are overshadowed by increased spending. CBS News reports that in the first 100 days of Trump’s term, the government spent $220 billion more than the same period the previous year, primarily on military and senior benefits.

While DOGE claims massive savings, critics question the cost-efficiency, noting that it may have cost taxpayers $135 billion just to achieve the reported savings. Much of this came from laying off thousands of federal employees. Experts argue the agency may be creating more waste than it eliminates. Max Stier from the Partnership for Public Service noted the contradiction in DOGE’s goals versus its impact. Trump defended the job cuts, framing them as eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy, and said the administration is working to retain only those truly dedicated to serving the country.