The Treasury Department and General Services Administration launched a new program that rewards federal employees for finding ways to cut wasteful government spending.
The Savings Award for Verified Efficiencies (SAVE) Program allows non-senior federal workers to earn up to $10,000 for identifying contracts that can be canceled or reduced.
The initiative represents a shift in how the federal government approaches cost-cutting. Rather than relying solely on top-down mandates, it empowers frontline employees who often have the clearest view of unnecessary expenditures in their departments.
“Through this strengthened partnership, Treasury and GSA are setting a new standard for responsible stewardship of public funds,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. “Together, we are building a cost-saving model that can be scaled across government. We look forward to working with our partners across the Trump Administration to ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely and efficiently.”
GSA Acting Administrator Mike Rigas emphasized the collaborative nature of the program.
“The SAVE program exemplifies inter-agency collaboration at its best by combining GSA’s procurement expertise with Treasury’s fiscal oversight,” Rigas said. “By empowering frontline federal employees to act decisively on wasteful contracts, we are driving a cultural shift toward greater accountability and efficiency government-wide.”
The program builds on GSA’s earlier Defend the Spend initiative, which focused on improving contract efficiency. Treasury adapted this model to create a formal reward system for cost-saving proposals.
Eligible employees can receive awards worth up to 5% of verified savings, with a maximum of $10,000 per contract action. The program includes multiple layers of review to ensure savings claims are accurate and legitimate.
GSA Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum called the initiative a way to “democratize” government savings efforts. “By rewarding the federal workforce, we are democratizing savings efforts across government and strengthening our collective role as responsible fiduciaries to the American taxpayer,” he said.
The approval process requires review by both the Treasury and GSA. After the Treasury’s Office of the Procurement Executive approves a submission, GSA independently validates the savings and confirms they resulted directly from the employee’s actions.
GSA must provide final approval before any monetary awards are issued. This dual-review system aims to ensure transparency and prevent fraudulent claims while maintaining compliance with federal acquisition regulations.