Accounting Catastrophe: How DOGE’s “Wall of Receipts” Inflated Federal Savings by Billions Executive Summary In early 2025, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) published an online “Wall of Receipts” claiming over $115 billion in federal savings. However, investigative reports reveal only about 30% of that total is backed by verifiable documentation, and dozens of line items contain glaring errors—from a $8 million contract misreported as $8 billion , to a single $25 million Department of Agriculture contract quadruple‑counted as $100 million . Other mistakes include misreading IDIQ contracts (overstating savings by ~$1.96 billion), and listing a $1.9 billion IRS contract already canceled under the previous administration. Revisions have seen hundreds of contracts vanish overnight without explanation. Experts like Northwestern’s Harry Kraemer estimate DOGE’s true savings may be overstated by up to 80% , underscoring the...
Trump Hints at De-escalation in U.S.-China Trade War as Tariff Pressures Mount Executive Summary On April 17, 2025, President Donald Trump indicated that the tit‑for‑tat tariff escalation with China may be winding down, citing concerns that higher duties were dampening U.S. consumer spending Reuters . China’s commerce ministry responded by declaring it would ignore the “tariff numbers game,” signaling openness to de‑escalation Reuters . This détente follows rounds of steep duties—peaking at 145% on Chinese imports and 125% on U.S. exports—that have rattled supply chains and contributed to accelerated U.S. inflation Reuters AP News . Analysts estimate these 2025 tariffs have reduced U.S. GDP growth by about 1.1 percentage points, with long‑term output lowered by 0.6% ($180 billion annually in 2024 dollars) The Budget Lab at Yale . As Washington and Beijing eye mutual tariff roll‑backs, market volatility may ease, but political hurdles and broader strategic frictions—especial...