Federal Spending Rises Despite Efficiency Push as Data Security Risks Emerge

Washington D.C., Tuesday, 30 December 2025.
One year following the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a fiscal paradox has emerged: while federal employment has contracted by 9 percent, overall government spending has actually increased by approximately $248 billion as of November 2025. Analysis indicates that promised savings failed to materialize, with many claimed reductions found to be misclassified expired contracts or cuts subsequently reversed by litigation. Beyond the budgetary shortfall, the rapid deregulation has introduced significant operational risks; whistleblowers have revealed that millions of Americans’ sensitive data were compromised in unsecured cloud environments during the restructuring. With Elon Musk having departed the initiative in May 2025, the administration now faces the complex challenge of managing a rising deficit alongside critical vulnerabilities in agency infrastructure.