DOGE Saves $5M by Cutting Unused Software Licenses, Eyes $1T in Future Savings

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sniffed out millions in savings by trimming the fat from federal software budgets. Agencies like the IRS, Department of Labor, and Securities and Exchange Commission were caught with their paws in the cookie jar, paying for thousands of unused software licenses. The IRS, for instance, shelled out for 3,000 licenses but only used a measly 25—talk about a digital dog chasing its tail! DOGE slashed 99% of those excess licenses, saving over $5 million annually.

Other agencies weren’t spared the leash either. The Department of Labor cut 68% of its unused project planning software, while the SEC ditched 78% of its remote desktop programs after realizing they were only using a fifth of what they paid for. This isn’t just pocket change—it’s a bone-a-fide win for taxpayers, saving roughly $1,087 per taxpayer, according to DOGE’s estimates.

The hunt for waste began in February when DOGE barked about the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), which employs 13,000 people but was paying for a whopping 37,000 WinZip licenses. That’s right—more licenses than employees, plus 19,000 training subscriptions and redundant project management tools. It’s like buying a kennel for every pup in town but only housing a few.

As Elon Musk steps down as DOGE’s top dog, he’s confident the savings will keep fetching bigger numbers, projecting $1 trillion in future cuts. Musk likened DOGE’s mission to a ‘Buddhist way of life,’ permeating government to root out waste and fraud. With $175 billion already saved through asset sales and contract cancellations, DOGE’s proving it’s not just barking up the wrong tree.