The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) officially ended its operations on July 4, aligning with the Trump administration’s focus on addressing fraud across government sectors.
DOGE communicated on July 4:
“The greatest reward in life is, by far, the opportunity to work hard at a rewarding job.” While DOGE has officially closed its doors, the commitment to fight waste, fraud, and abuse remains strong. Effectively managing taxpayer funds and ensuring government accountability isn’t just a one-time effort. We hope these values resonate for the next 250 years in America. Serving the American people has been a true honor. Happy 4th of July!”
DOGE took its name from the widely recognized internet meme featuring a Shiba Inu. The aim was to eliminate fraud and inefficiencies in the federal government while advocating for diversity and inclusion measures. By October, DOGE reportedly saved taxpayers about $214 billion—thanks to asset sales, lease terminations, halting grant disbursements, and reducing fraudulent payments, among other initiatives.
The Office of Personnel Management indicates a reduction of 272,000 federal employees since President Trump assumed office in January 2025, driven by hiring freezes, retirement offers, and layoffs. Approximately 140,000 employees have opted for early retirement under the Retirement Deferment Program, which allows them to keep full pay and benefits until their retirement in September 2025.
Even though DOGE has officially shut down, the Trump administration remains committed to tackling waste, fraud, and abuse throughout federal operations.
On July 6, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins highlighted the agency’s initiative to address food stamp fraud in Los Angeles and beyond.
Today, @USDA_FNA announced a major SNAP fraud crackdown in Los Angeles.
Formal indictments were issued against 33 SNAP-authorized retailers in the area following search warrant executions. The violations included cash trafficking and selling prohibited goods like alcohol, liquor, beer, soda, and e-cigarettes.
These retailers may face penalties and disbarment, but this is just a small part of the larger issue of fraud affecting SNAP. Other retailers and recipients misusing taxpayer funds will also be pursued. @USDA and @WHFraudTF are ramping up efforts in hotspots like Los Angeles, so it might be worth keeping an eye on New York City, Dallas, and Atlanta for more developments.
Kelly Loeffler, Administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), recently discussed how her office uncovered $200 billion in suspected fraud linked to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) initiated during the pandemic by the Biden administration. In an interview, she mentioned how the SBA has already returned $22 billion to the Treasury and referred over 500,000 borrowers to the Department of Justice.
In June, the Department of Justice executed further actions as part of Vice President J.D. Vance’s Fraud Elimination Task Force dealing with PPP fraud.
“As we keep revealing millions in PPP and COVID-related fraud, it’s evident that there were glaring lapses in protections around these programs,” a spokesperson for Vance remarked. “Thanks to the task force, the days of criminals profiting from this funding are behind us.”
