.png){kind=logo}
US Debt Increase of $2.1 Trillion Highlights Limits of DOGE Reform Strategy
The US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has ended months earlier than planned, while US federal debt has continued to rise. Market newsletter The Kobeissi Letter reported on November 24 that official debt has increased by about $2.1 trillion since DOGE launched on January 20, 2025. That equals about $6.5 billion added per day across 326 days. Observers use the figures to judge DOGE’s impact. Debt growth stayed high throughout.
President Donald Trump created DOGE by executive order at the start of his second term and named Elon Musk to lead it. The order set July 2026 as the target end date. The administration now says DOGE no longer runs as a central unit, and many tasks have moved to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
DOGE Shuts Down, and OPM Takes Over
OPM Director Scott Kupor told Reuters that DOGE “doesn’t exist” as a separate entity. He said OPM has absorbed staffing, hiring, and contract reviews that DOGE started. Kupor also confirmed the government-wide hiring freeze tied to DOGE has ended.
Former DOGE staff have moved into other roles across government. Some joined the National Design Studio, a White House initiative focused on federal websites. Musk left the post in late May after budget disputes, and several senior colleagues departed soon after. The reshuffle reduced DOGE’s momentum.
Also Read: Ditch Your Boss, Join Elon Musk's Efficiency Crew at DOGE
Cost-Cutting Results Draw Questions
DOGE promised to cut as much as $2 trillion in spending by targeting waste and bureaucracy. The unit claimed billions in savings from cancelling contracts, ending grants, and pushing workforce reductions. Independent experts say the impact remains hard to verify because DOGE released limited data.
Analysts note that DOGE focused on discretionary spending, which forms a smaller part of the federal budget. The largest spending areas sit in mandatory programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, plus interest payments on the national debt. DOGE did not advance major changes in those programs, so its actions could not slow debt growth in a lasting way.
Debt Rise Fuels Debate on Legacy
The Kobeissi Letter data places the $2.1 trillion increase within DOGE’s operating window. The newsletter presented the rise as evidence that narrow cuts did not change the trajectory of borrowing. Economists add that debt levels respond to revenues, economic conditions, and congressional budgets, so one executive unit has limited reach. Still, the daily pace of debt growth has become a key reference point in coverage of DOGE.
After DOGE’s dissolution, the White House has said it will keep pursuing efficiency through existing agencies and AI-driven regulatory reviews. Republican-led states such as Idaho and Florida have announced local efforts, suggesting that the DOGE model may continue outside Washington.
