T
he Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has terminated 13 federal real estate contracts in Mississippi, claiming to save taxpayers $3.6 million. However, previous claims of savings have been inflated, and the agency's transparency on recent cuts has decreased. The DOGE Wall of Receipts initially listed five canceled contracts but added eight more as of March 2.

    President Donald Trump tasked DOGE with reducing spending and regulations. Elon Musk, a special government employee, claimed the organization was making significant cuts to save taxpayer dollars. Trump suggested giving 20% of "DOGE savings" to taxpayers as stimulus checks.

    DOGE's previous cost-saving statements have been fact-checked, revealing inflated estimates that fall short upon review. The agency has announced massive cuts, but some are later rolled back, drawing criticism from both sides of the political aisle.

    As of March 3, the Wall of Receipts listed $105 billion in total savings, translating to $652.17 per taxpayer. However, full fact-checking of the March 2 update is not yet complete. DOGE has announced cuts that haven't held up under review, including a $55 billion savings claim that was later reduced.

    In Mississippi, five federal offices have reportedly been closed due to DOGE decisions, including U.S. Marshals Service in Oxford and Social Security offices in Grenada, Greenwood, and Meridian. The additional eight sites added in the March 2 update don't have an agency listed on the DOGE site.

    The Trump administration offered buyouts to much of the civil workforce, with about 75,000 workers taking an eight-month offer. More federal employees have been fired since, with some separations finalized after employees seek a solution through administrative channels or lawsuits.

    There were 19,690 federal civilian employees in Mississippi as of September 2024, not including uniformed military personnel or federal contractors. Information on how many were affected by buyouts or layoffs is not yet available.