How many times are they going to try to game the system?
DOGe’s public numbers aren’t matching up. And has anyone noticed there are no women on Muskrat’s team? Interesting. Let’s see what kind of foolery they’re trying to pull. This is going to be a bit more with the numbers and a bit less talking than my ordinary pieces. Where shall we start? Pick a number, any number. Everyone is well aware that DOGe is repeating the wrong numbers.
The first comprehensive public listing of the money DOGe is supposed to be saving is filled with errors. The estimated savings was $55 billion. Yet the “wall of receipts” represents only a subset of canceled contracts that amount to only 29% of that. So what are they trying to hide besides bullsh*t? Contracts that had not yet been awarded. Instances where a single pot of money was listed multiple times. Purchase agreements that have no record of being canceled – instead they were stripped of language related to DEI. And still more to come.
DOGe has already corrected its website twice, starting with an article by the New York Times where $8 million was listed as $8 billion. That’s a pretty damn big discrepancy. And there was also a correction about a duplicative $655 million contract that was listed 3 times. The list included canceled federal contracts for several media subscriptions, including Politico Pro. Remember, their website is not secured.
Conservatives have cheered on DOGe. They have swept into federal agencies axing contracts with federal employees losing their jobs en masse. But their slash-and-burn approach and the tRump administrative fumbles on some federal job cuts have resulted in a backlash putting pressure on GOP representatives at home with their constituents.
Muskrat has admitted that he and DOGe will make mistakes. Gee, ya think? It’s not an official government agency established by Congress with clear lines of oversight and rules that it should follow. And that’s part of the problem. It’s not constrained by anything so it can do anything. That’s disturbing.
But I promised some numbers so here we go! There were at least 14 instances where items were repeated, totaling $325 million in claimed savings. DOGe duplicated a $25 million item under the Department of Agriculture 4 times, reporting each vendor that was eligible to bid on the work and quadrupling the purported savings to $100 million. For one repeated $30 million contract, the latest update is for “complete or partial” termination. Looking a little deeper on that one, the purpose was to “partially terminate” the order to remove all language and end rendering of services to DEI, effective immediately”. How about those apples?
Beyond duplicate contracts, there are hundreds of instances where the reports show $0 in savings. The saved amount reported does not align with the federal data DOGe reports. There are 417 contracts with $0 in savings. This indicates there is no money to claw back, although the administration has attempted to interfere with awarded funds in the past. For others, the saved amount is more than what the federal data shows is available. They are over-reporting savings.
One more thing – DOGe lists a $1.1 million contract from the National Institutes of Health with a Maryland-based company for IT support. But links to the document shows a $95.3 million contract for consulting services at NIH. That’s a pretty big gap.
And there we go. I didn’t want to quote too many numbers and make everyone’s eyes cross, or better yet, fall asleep from boredom. But here are just a few examples of DOGe playing fast and loose with the federal government and their supposed savings. I’m sure more will come to light as time passes.
*****And now, please read a very special request from our awesome boss******
If you’ve already donated to PolitiZoom, we are grateful for your contribution. If you’re able to spare a donation, it will help us keep going during this time of low traffic industry-wide. And I’m sure I don’t have to explain to anybody why people are staying away from this kind of demoralizing material. But we have to keep on fighting. Thank you. Ursula
This is all BOGUS! tRUMP/Musk-melon are the “Wreaking Crew” They are eliminating, anything & everything, RW consider “Socialist” Government! It’s obvious, all gibberish, flung against the Walls, with no IDEA, of what will happen! ONE thing I’m sure of, RW thugs think, no One/Liberals will put-up a FIGHT. I HOPE I’M WRONG.