Steve Bannon Trashes Trump Admin's DOGE Effort—'Delivered Zero'
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Steve Bannon called out the Department of Government Efficiency's efforts to reduce waste, fraud and abuse, saying that the White House task force that was helmed by Elon Musk "delivered zero."
Newsweek has reached out to Bannon for comment via text message on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
In late-May, the billionaire tech CEO Musk announced he would be stepping down after his "scheduled time as a Special Government Employee" came to an end after five months of work as one of the most high-profile figures in the second Trump administration.
His task force sought to champion mass cuts across the federal government, which led to mass layoffs and restructuring. DOGE faces ongoing legal challenges over some of its sweeping initiatives, including accessing sensitive data and mass termination of employees.
Musk and President Donald Trump last week clashed publicly in a heated exchange on social media. The dispute began over Musk's criticism of a Trump-backed spending bill and escalated into threats over federal contracts and allegations involving Trump's ties to child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Bannon, who has always been critical of Musk and his connections to the Chinese Communist Party, called for Musk to be deported to South Africa amid the rift with Trump.
Steve Bannon at the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on February 21, 2025.
Steve Bannon at the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, on February 21, 2025.
Annabelle Gordon - CNP/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
What To Know
As DOGE head, Musk oversaw large-scale federal workforce reductions, citing a mandate to eliminate inefficiency.
Bannon, a longtime Trump ally who previously served as White House chief strategist, said during Wednesday's episode of his War Room podcast: "I hate to say, fanboys, but DOGE delivered zero. Nothing on waste, fraud, abuse."
He added that "they had some recommendations on programmatic, but people have been on that for years on PBS, on NPR, on USAID. Where is the fraud? Nothing—one of the reasons the president is so disappointed."
Earlier this year, DOGE helped dismantle the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), responsible for more than six decades of humanitarian aid and development work, with Musk calling it a "criminal organization."
On May 1, Trump signed an executive order to cut federal funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The Trump administration claims that the broadcasters have become purveyors of "left-wing propaganda" and accuses them of violating the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's mandate to remain nonpartisan.
Bannon previously said that DOGE's reported "savings" came from funds already approved by Congress for federal programs, not from uncovering fraud in large agencies like the Defense Department.
According to the DOGE website, the task force has saved $180 billion, amounting to $1,118 per taxpayer.
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, in a February Truth Social post: "DOGE: BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE BEING FOUND. CAMPAIGN PROMISE. IMPORTANT FOR AMERICA!!!"
Elon Musk, in a May 28 post on X, formerly Twitter: "The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government."
House Speaker Mike Johnson, reacted to Musk's comments on the spending bill, on X: "@ElonMusk and the entire @DOGE team have done INCREDIBLE work exposing waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government - from the insanity of USAID's spending to finding over 12 million people on Social Security who were over 120 years old. The House is eager and ready to act on DOGE's findings so we can deliver even more cuts to big government that President Trump wants and the American people demand."
Republican Representative Pat Harrigan of North Carolina, on X on Wednesday: "Thank you for your service, @ElonMusk, and for everything you've done to expose waste, defend free speech, and challenge the broken machinery of Washington. DOGE set a new standard for what focused, impactful public service should be. I'll do my part to make sure it leads to real, lasting change."
What Happens Next
With Musk no longer at DOGE, oversight of the task force has shifted to Cabinet departments and their secretaries.
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