DOGE eliminates wasteful contracts and benefit misuse, saving $175 billion amid expanded immigration enforcement.

Major Efficiency Push Reshapes Federal Immigration Spending

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has announced a sweeping $175 billion in taxpayer savings following a series of cost-cutting initiatives across immigration, border security, and federal benefit programs. The announcement comes as President Donald Trump’s administration implements wide-ranging changes during the early months of his second term.

The changes were triggered in part by the departure of DOGE Director Elon Musk, who led a number of controversial reforms. “DOGE has helped to transform the Federal government by eliminating waste and bloat that has been ignored for years,” said White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson. She highlighted DOGE’s efforts to dismantle costly and underutilized programs, including contracts related to immigration detention facilities and public benefits accessed by undocumented immigrants.

In February, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) canceled an $83 million contract for a vacant detention facility and rescinded $80 million in FEMA funds used to house undocumented immigrants in New York City hotels. The agency also approved a new contract to resume construction along a seven-mile stretch of the southern border, part of the Trump administration’s renewed emphasis on completing the border wall project.

Scrutiny Over Public Benefits and Program Terminations

In April, DOGE disclosed that numerous undocumented immigrants—including some on the FBI’s terrorist watchlist—had received public benefits such as Medicaid, unemployment aid, and federal student loans. The report cited four individuals on the terror watchlist and 901 other “paroled aliens” who received a range of benefits in 2024, including $751,000 in tax refunds and $280,000 in student loans.

“Under the Biden administration, it was routine for Border Patrol to admit aliens into the United States with no legal status and minimal screening,” the department stated. A total of 6,300 individuals paroled into the country since 2023 have now had their status terminated, according to the agency.

Beyond immigration, the Coast Guard discontinued an information technology program deemed ineffective, saving $32.7 million. “The USCG continues to deliver on the President’s priorities,” said DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, describing the change as a win for government efficiency and homeland protection.

Other reforms included the elimination of FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. A FEMA spokesperson described it as “wasteful and ineffective,” citing concerns that the program focused more on political agendas than disaster relief. Meanwhile, the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a forthcoming crackdown on illegal immigrants using public housing benefits.

The administration’s intensified efforts are in line with President Trump’s broader mandate to reduce illegal immigration and reform federal spending. Jackson emphasized DOGE’s central role in “eliminating millions of taxpayer money being misspent,” noting that such reforms were vital for restoring fiscal discipline and national security.

Officials say the cumulative financial impact has already reached $175 billion in savings, with further audits and reductions expected as DOGE continues its mandate under new leadership.