DOGE’s Cost-Cutting Blitz: What’s Happened So Far in May

Since May 3, 2025, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has continued its aggressive campaign to reduce federal spending, workforce, and government programs. Major actions include mass layoffs, grant and contract cancellations, regulatory changes, and a surge of legal challenges. These efforts have resulted in both reported savings and significant controversy over their impact on public services, research, and the federal workforce.

Timeline of Key Events (May 3, 2025 – mid-May 2025)

• May 5-7, 2025: DOGE announces surpassing $165 billion in total savings, citing contract terminations, grant cancellations, and workforce reductions. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Education, and Office of Personnel Management are leading contributors to these savings¹.

• May 9, 2025: A federal judge issues a two-week restraining order temporarily blocking further implementation of mass layoffs and restructuring at 20 federal agencies, including DOGE, after labor unions and advocacy groups sue the Trump administration. The court order pauses reduction-in-force notices and the placing of employees on administrative leave².

• May 9, 2025: DOGE’s latest regulatory actions include new requirements for written justifications on agency payments (“Defend the Spend” initiative), which critics say are slowing the flow of federal grants, especially in Labor and apprenticeship programs³. Executive actions also target increasing efficiency in federal record-keeping and fighting regulatory “overcriminalization”⁴.

• Early to Mid-May 2025: Reports highlight the scale of DOGE-led cuts: over 61,000 federal jobs eliminated, contract and grant terminations affecting universities, state and local programs, tribal libraries, national parks, Medicaid, and AmeriCorps. Some cuts have been reversed by court injunctions or agency decisions⁵.

• May 13, 2025: Watchdog groups and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the ongoing and potential savings from unimplemented efficiency recommendations, with Congress urged to further address government fragmentation and duplication⁶.

• May 13, 2025: Public campaigns highlight the impact of DOGE staff cuts on national parks, drawing public attention to reduced services at sites like Cuyahoga Valley National Park⁷.

Summary of Major Developments

• Savings and Cuts: DOGE claims over $165 billion in federal savings, mostly from contract cancellations, grant terminations, and workforce reductions. HHS, GSA, and Education are the largest contributors.
• Workforce Impact: Over 61,000 federal jobs have been cut, affecting services at agencies including HHS, Social Security, Labor, the National Park Service, and more.
• Legal Battles: Federal courts have issued temporary restraining orders halting mass layoffs, and several agency actions face ongoing legal scrutiny.
• Program and Grant Terminations: Major cuts have hit research grants, university funding, tribal libraries, Medicaid, AmeriCorps, and environmental programs. Some reversals have occurred following public or legal pushback.
• Public Controversy: While DOGE touts improved government efficiency, critics and watchdogs note the potential for decreased public service quality, job losses, and hidden costs that may offset claimed savings.