By Charles Switzer
3:03am PDT, Apr 12, 2025
Musk Announces $150 Billion in Federal Budget Savings
Elon Musk, speaking from the West Wing during a Cabinet meeting on Thursday, April 10, revealed that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is projected to save $150 billion in fiscal year 2026, the
New York Post reported.
The announcement marks a notable step in President
Donald Trump's effort to overhaul federal spending.
"Thanks to your fantastic leadership, this amazing Cabinet, and the very talented DOGE team, I'm excited to announce that we anticipate savings in [Fiscal Year] '26 from reduction of waste and fraud by $150 billion," Musk stated during the meeting.
But that number falls way short of what the world's richest human predicted in March. Read on to find out more.
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Earlier Claims Fall Short of Reality
Just last month, Elon Musk confidently told Fox News that DOGE's mission would reduce the federal deficit by an exponentially larger number within the first 130 days of operation.
"Our goal is to reduce the deficit by one trillion dollars. From a nominal deficit of two trillion, to try and cut the deficit in half to one trillion," Musk told the network's
Brett Baier. "I think we will have accomplished most of the work required to reduce the deficit by a trillion dollars within that time frame."
While the $150 billion figure is far below the $1 trillion Musk forecasted, DOGE now estimates that amount equals $931.68 in savings for every
American taxpayer.
DOGE Alleges Widespread Fraud in Unemployment System
As part of its initiative to root out
fraud and waste, DOGE also released findings detailing instances of bizarre unemployment claims. According to DOGE, since 2020, millions of dollars have been paid to individuals whose birth dates indicate they either should not exist — or do not yet exist.
DOGE's figures include, 24,500 people over the age of 115 claimed $59 million, 28,000 children aged 1 to 5 claimed $254 million and 9,700 individuals with future birth dates received $69 million.
In one particularly absurd example, a claimant born in the year 2154 reportedly received $41,000 in unemployment benefits.
Musk and Lawmakers React to Stunning Figures
The revelations prompted sharp reactions on social media and in Congress.
Elon Musk posted on X, "Your tax dollars were going to pay fraudulent unemployment claims for fake people born in the future! This is so crazy that I had to read it several times before it sank in."
Sen. Joni Ernst added her voice to the criticism, telling the New York Post, "Of course, toddlers and someone with a birthdate 129 years in the future are unemployed, but they definitely don't qualify for unemployment benefits."
Legal Victory for DOGE and Federal Workforce Cuts
This week also brought a legal boost to the Donald Trump administration's wider DOGE initiative.
On Tuesday, April 8, the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the president's authority to dismiss federal employees, overturning a lower court ruling that had required the reinstatement of approximately 24,000 probationary workers.
This decision further strengthens Trump and Elon Musk's broader plan to restructure and
downsize the federal workforce as part of DOGE's mandate.
