Federal agencies cut 63 contracts deemed wasteful, slashing potential expenses by $124 million and securing an overall savings of $39 million, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced over the weekend.
Among the nixed deals are a $1.25 million contract from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for “Google AdWords management” and a $1.9 million State Department consulting agreement for “global advisory and support services” related to the Republic of Palau, a small Pacific island in Micronesia.
The announcement came via a post to X from DOGE on Saturday, where the agency spoke on its ongoing effort to cut bloated and outdated spending habits across the government.
DOGE also separately announced scrapping 47 more unnecessary contracts, avoiding up to $87.5 million in potentially unnecessary costs. One canceled deal included a $3.4 million State Department contract for “aviation advisors in Kenya.”
DOGE also posted an update from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, led by Commissioner Andrew Sonderling, which recently canceled $25 million in controversial DEI grants, resulting in $15 million in total savings. Among the scrapped projects were a $265,000 college study on why BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) teens read Japanese comics, as well as $250,000 specifically designated for LGBTQ+ historical markers in Ohio.
The update goes on to list a variety of canceled DEI-based funding programs previously approved by the Biden administration, including:
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$140,000 to the University of South Carolina to establish designated “safe spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals” in libraries.
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$400,000 to the University of Tennessee to research “LGBTQ+ library users’ metadata.”
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$105,000 to the California Association of Museums to address “systemic racism” in museums.
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$6.7 million to the California State Library to “enhance equitable library programs.”
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$1.5 million to the Connecticut State Library to embed social justice and DEI principles into everyday operations.
More information about big cuts in unnecessary government spending is anticipated when DOGE’s next quarterly report is published in June.