- DOGE has revised its lease termination count from 748 leases and $660M in savings to 563 leases totaling $262M—less than half the originally claimed amount.
- Some of the leases DOGE claimed to terminate were either still active or canceled before the agency was even established, according to nonprofit news outlet NOTUS.
- The discrepancy has raised questions about coordination between DOGE and the General Services Administration (GSA), which reports slightly different figures.
- Elon Musk, who led DOGE since its founding under the Trump administration, announced his departure from the agency to refocus on Tesla.
A Shifting Narrative
Launched early in the Trump administration to reduce government waste, DOGE quickly touted sweeping cuts to the federal real estate portfolio. Within six weeks, it claimed to have axed 748 leases for a savings of $660M. But according to a recent NOTUS investigation, DOGE has quietly scaled back those numbers, reports Bisnow.
The Revised Figures
As of this month, DOGE now says it has terminated 563 leases—185 fewer than originally stated—resulting in $262M in cost savings. That’s a 60% drop in claimed savings from the March 4 peak. The reductions include several high-profile federal spaces, such as IRS and SEC offices, that were previously listed as canceled but appear to remain active.
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Unverified Or Outdated Data
NOTUS also uncovered that some leases DOGE listed as terminated had been canceled prior to the agency’s formation. The agency’s internal records appear inconsistent with those from the GSA, the federal agency officially responsible for managing real estate.
Different Stories, Same Goal
The GSA, in its own public update, said it had canceled 595 underused leases totaling $298M—slightly more conservative than DOGE’s own April 30 report of 643 leases and $311M in savings. Neither agency has fully reconciled the differences, and GSA declined to comment on the matter.
Leadership Transition
DOGE was a signature initiative early in Trump’s term, led by Elon Musk in a part-time capacity. In April, Musk announced he would step away from DOGE to concentrate on Tesla, saying the “heavy lifting” at the agency had been completed.
Why It Matters
DOGE’s walkback adds to growing skepticism around the transparency and accountability of branded government cost-saving efforts. The inconsistencies may undermine confidence in federal property management at a time when office utilization is under heightened scrutiny.
What’s Next
DOGE faces growing pressure to verify its lease termination claims and align more closely with GSA’s reported figures. With Musk stepping aside, the future direction of DOGE remains uncertain.
