US Congress' independent watchdog for auditing and evaluation
The GAO has found that DOGE’s Wall of Receipts savings claims are not reliably supported by the data. Audits show many terminated contracts and leases were not actually terminated, and the methodology behind grant savings remains unverified. The watchdog report covers January 2025 to July 2026.
The government has announced that White House renovations are funded with a mix of private donations, federal funds and other sources. The ballroom project is bolstering security upgrades, with estimates rising toward $600 million. Lawmakers are pushing for oversight and transparency while the administration asserts security needs drive the work.
Multiple recalls are rippling through the US food system. A donut recall in March labeling issues, several wraps tied to STEC, and a broad recall wave linked to peppers and berries highlight ongoing safety concerns. Authorities urge discard or return of affected items and emphasize consumer safety as top priority.
The U.S. CBP says the border-area wall will close a security gap, while the Tohono O’odham Nation accuses the administration of trespass and warns of damage to sacred lands. Construction on the Roosevelt Reservation has drawn protests, legal disputes, and a federal court decision allowing work to continue. Tribal officials vow further legal action.
The Education Department has moved borrowers off the SAVE plan, and several lawsuits and notices are shaping outcomes as servicers transition borrowers to new repayment plans. Reports show higher monthly bills, coding errors, and lingering questions about PSLF credits amid the overhaul begun this summer.
A federal judge has ruled that DHS exceeded its authority by attempting to cut FEMA staffing by 50%, saying the agency must lead staffing decisions. The ruling follows a wave of department changes and a broader push to shrink the federal workforce. The decision does not impose a specific remedy, sending the sides to negotiate relief.
The GAO has documented costly missteps in ICE's detention-expansion program after the Trump administration directed mass arrests. Agencies rushed to buy facilities and tented spaces without proper planning, resulting in unused assets and mounting costs as DHS pledges a strategic plan by 2027.
The White House has used a pocket rescission to cancel funding across 11 programs and agencies, arguing some spending is no longer necessary. The Government Accountability Office says the tactic is illegal if Congress has not approved the action, raising constitutional questions and prompting Democratic and Republican lawmakers to weigh next steps.
The government has spent millions on TV ads featuring President Trump and other officials, labeled as public service announcements. Democratic senators have demanded answers, arguing the funding may be illegal and constituted a misuse of taxpayer dollars as midterms approach. The ads have drawn broad criticism and questions about independence of agencies.
The high court has intervened for a second time in CREW’s bid for access to DOGE records from the early Trump era. The court’s conservative majority has limited prior orders to produce documents, while CREW argues DOGE is a federal agency subject to FOIA. The dispute centers on transparency of a presidential advisory body and its broad authority.
GAO urges automated body-camera activation to ensure footage, but DHS rejects it citing privacy. ICE says current policies leave gaps after shootings that raise questions about accountability and transparency.