DOGE slashes over $5 million by cutting thousands of unused software licenses

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) identified several agencies that were paying for more software licenses than they were actually using, leading to over $5 million in annual savings. For instance, the IRS had 3,000 software licenses but only utilized 25, prompting DOGE to cut the excess licenses. According to DOGE, many agencies have idle licenses that are paid for but not in use on any computer. The Department of Labor and the Securities and Exchange Commission also significantly reduced unused software licenses, resulting in substantial cost savings.

DOGE emphasized the importance of conducting audits to eliminate wasteful spending on software licenses. The agency highlighted instances where agencies were paying for more licenses than needed, such as the U.S. General Services Administration’s excessive WinZip licenses. Additionally, DOGE, led by Elon Musk, has achieved significant savings by identifying and cutting unnecessary costs in government operations. Musk expressed confidence that the savings would continue to grow, with a goal of reaching $1 trillion in reductions over time.