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In case you missed it, RDP just released a new report on the Department of Government Efficiency. DOGE: From Meme to Government Erosion Machine is a comprehensive look at how this shadowy amalgam of right-wing political appointees and private sector interests attacked the heart of U.S. federal government—and democracy.
First under Elon Musk, and now helmed by Russell Vought, DOGE’s destructive approach has followed a consistent pattern: dismantle agency staffing and resources → deny consequences → claim “success” in (frequently fictitious) dollars saved, not lives affected.
But dubious claims of fiscal responsibility could never mask the consequences of mass layoffs, contract cancellations, and grant cuts. From veterans denied care, to families financially exploited, to citizens left unprotected in disasters, DOGE has sacrificed public welfare on the altar of “efficiency.”
Our audit lays bare the human, political, and institutional costs of DOGE infiltration across dozens of federal agencies, including at:
- The Department of Health and Human Services, where cuts weakened health programs nationwide:
- $226 million cut from Minnesota health programs left thousands of children unprotected as vaccination clinics were forced to close.
- Hundreds of FDA support staff were eliminated, slowing inspections and jeopardizing food and medical device safety.
- CDC research into hepatitis, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, gun violence, and domestic violence were all sharply curtailed, decimating the government’s ability to monitor public health threats.
- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, whose destruction has left consumers exposed to predatory practices:
- A proposed cap on credit card late fees was revoked, transferring $10 billion annually from household budgets to big banks.
- Dozens of enforcement orders were canceled, robbing consumers of millions of dollars in restitution from corporate crooks like Toyota, Capital One, and Wells Fargo, including $48 million in restitution from Toyota Motor Credit.
- Only one enforcement action filed under Vought, signaling to bad actors that violations would go unchecked.
- The Department of Homeland Security, which is now far less capable of responding to natural and man-made threats:
- Up to 33% of FEMA staff has been ousted, including senior executives and coordinators.
- During the Central Texas floods in July 2025, thousands of calls went unanswered and Urban Search & Rescue efforts were delayed more than 72 hours.
- Hundreds of domestic security specialists tasked with defending the country from cyber threats were fired.
- The U.S. Agency for International Development, where decimated foreign aid yields catastrophic global consequences:
- A $1.3 billion cut from emergency food programs exacerbated malnutrition, starvation, and violence in countries such as Sudan, Malawi, and Kenya.
- 60,000 metric tons of food were at risk due to canceled storage and distribution contracts.
- Boston University modeling estimates over 700,000 excess deaths worldwide linked to these cuts by January 2026.
- The Department of Veteran Affairs, which turned its back on former members of the armed forces:
- The National Call Center for Homeless Veterans was stripped of 30% of its staff, directly hindering the ability of the most vulnerable former service members to access life-saving resources.
- Despite claims that care would remain unaffected, the cancellation of approximately 600 contracts by June 2025 included essential services for hospital sterilization, equipment maintenance, and air quality control.
- Dozens of VA contracts that supported research into cancer treatments have been cancelled.
- The Department of Housing and Urban Development, where a lack of civil rights enforcement has left vulnerable homeowners unprotected:
- The loss of nearly 40% of the agency’s total legal workforce has stifled HUD’s ability to hold corporate landlords accountable
- Approximately half of the grants for nonprofits that process 75% of all complaints under the Fair Housing Act were canceled.
- At the Smith Tower Apartments in Vancouver, Washington, the withdrawal of a $10 million award forced the cancellation of the building’s first-ever sprinkler system, leaving low-income seniors in a hazardous environment.
- The Department of Commerce, where the gutting of climate and science experts has left Americans blind to natural disasters:
- Over 2,300 workers were pushed out, stripping the agency of 10% of its staff before tornado season and nearly 20% before the start of hurricane season.
- 35 offices were left without “Meteorologists-in-Charge”—the critical linchpins for emergency coordination—including the San Angelo office during the July Texas floods that killed over 130 people.
- An $8.2 million grant for rural broadband in Kansas was terminated, abandoning the 30% of low-income households that remain without reliable internet access.
Check out the report to learn more about the damage DOGE inflicted across the Departments of Labor, Treasury, Energy, Agriculture, and Education, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, Internal Revenue Service, General Service Administration, and Office of Management and Budget.
DOGE: From Meme to Government Erosion Machine is more than analysis, it’s a warning. If Americans want a government capable of responding to crises, protecting rights, and serving the public good, we can’t let these destructive policies—and the actors that pursue them—fade into the background.
