Govt. Saves $67.5 Billion after Some Federal Agencies are Directed to Improve Efficiency
Demonstrating the need for President-elect Donald Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, the investigative arm of Congress had to direct some government agencies to “improve the efficiency and effectiveness of federal programs” in order to save a colossal $67.5 billion in fiscal year 2024, which ended in September. Otherwise, American taxpayers would be forced to pick up the tab for yet more government waste, which is rampant and has long persisted under both Democratic and Republican administrations.
To save the tens of billions, seemingly a drop in the bucket considering the government spent $6.75 trillion in fiscal year 2024, the few federal agencies involved had to receive instructions from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The nonpartisan and independent Congressional watchdog examines how taxpayer dollars are spent and provides lawmakers with objective and fact-based information to help the government save money and work more efficiently. Here are some examples that led to the latest savings. The GAO directed Medicaid to better align states’ estimates for demonstrations with recent costs, saving $13.4 billion. The Department of Energy (DOE) halted construction on a facility that is no longer necessary for treating nuclear and hazardous waste, saving $6 billion. The Department of Defense (DOD) was instructed to identify improper payments, errors, and fraud, resulting in $4.8 billion in savings. The Small Business Administration (SBA) was forced to crack down on the rampant fraud of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) that doled out monstrous sums of money to small businesses recovering from the pandemic, resulting in the decline of $2.1 billion in ineligible or fraudulent applicants.
The list of examples continues and can be viewed in detail in the GAO’s lengthy report, which was recently released to the public and covers the agency’s overall performance and accountability for 2024. The watchdog estimates that the questionable programs it is currently targeting will save American taxpayers at least $50 billion in fiscal year 2025. The GAO has cracked down on tens of thousands of reckless government programs since 2002, saving approximately $1.45 trillion. However, many federal agencies have blown off thousands of recommendations that could result in $106 billion to $208 billion in financial benefits, according to GAO estimates. The congressional watchdog implies that it more than earns its keep with a budget that is a lot smaller—$811.9 million in fiscal year 2024—than the money it saves taxpayers by promoting better management throughout government, which should occur without the GAO’s mandates.
https://www.judicialwatch.org/govt-saves-67-5-billion/
