The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was reportedly shelling out a whopping $380,000 per month for website modifications before canceling the contract and handing the reins to an internal software engineer. The revelation came courtesy of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has been sniffing out inefficiencies across federal agencies.

According to DOGE's post on X (formerly Twitter), the work that once cost taxpayers a fortune is now handled by a single VA software engineer dedicating roughly 10 hours a week. Talk about a budget makeover!

VA Secretary Doug Collins defended the cost-cutting measures, framing them as part of a broader effort to reform the department and better serve veterans. Earlier in the year, the VA announced it had dismissed over 1,000 employees, redirecting $98 million annually into healthcare, benefits, and services for VA beneficiaries.

Since its inception under an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump, DOGE has been tasked with optimizing federal operations, slashing waste, and saving taxpayer money. And it’s certainly not shy about flexing its muscle. Last week alone, DOGE terminated 113 contracts valued at $4.7 billion, including one from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for Peru’s climate change activities. Let’s just say the days of extravagant spending on obscure initiatives appear numbered.

Critics, however, have voiced concerns that DOGE’s sweeping powers might be overstepping. They argue that the organization wields too much control over federal systems and should not have carte blanche to cancel contracts or make cuts unilaterally.

Still, DOGE claims its efforts have saved Americans $140 billion to date—or $869.57 per taxpayer. Love it or hate it, that’s an impressive figure. The question lingering in the air is whether these cuts are sustainable or just a flashy headline waiting to unravel.

Veterans Affairs News

VA's $380K Monthly Website Contract Uncovered, Now Handled Internally