Iowa City, Iowa – The Trump administration’s efforts to cut costs by canceling federal contracts may not be as effective as initially claimed, as nearly 40% of the terminated contracts are not expected to result in any savings, according to data released by the Department of Government Efficiency.

The Department, led by Trump adviser Elon Musk, recently published a list of over 2,300 contracts that various federal agencies had ended. However, a significant portion of these cancellations, totaling 794 contracts, are anticipated to yield no financial benefits, as the funds allocated for these contracts had already been spent.

Critics argue that canceling contracts that have already been fulfilled or are in progress may not serve the intended purpose of saving government funds. Charles Tiefer, an expert on government contracting law, likened it to “confiscating used ammunition” and questioned the efficacy of terminating contracts that have already met their obligations.

Despite the lack of immediate savings from these cancellations, the Trump administration maintains that its goal is to target fraud, waste, and abuse within the government. The Department of Government Efficiency claims to have saved an estimated $65 billion through various cost-cutting measures, although this figure has not been independently verified.

Multiple canceled contracts included expenditures for research studies, training programs, software purchases, and subscription services to media outlets. Some contracts, such as those for office furniture installation and carpet cleaning, had already reached their spending limits before being terminated.

Concerns have been raised about the long-term effects of the administration’s “slash and burn” approach to cutting contracts, as it may impact the performance of government agencies. Critics suggest that collaborating with agency contracting officers and inspectors general could lead to more efficient cost-saving strategies.

While the Department of Government Efficiency asserts that the overall contract cancellations will save $9.6 billion, doubts have been raised by independent experts regarding the accuracy of this figure. Additionally, some of the canceled contracts were intended to innovate and streamline government operations, raising questions about the alignment with the cost-cutting mission.

The release of this data coincided with a legal battle involving The Associated Press and the White House over access to presidential events. As the AP seeks to restore its access, the White House contends that the news agency has not complied with an executive order regarding geographic terminology. Amidst these challenges, a federal judge has urged the Trump administration to reconsider its decision to restrict AP’s access.