U.S. Air Force Announces $10.4 Billion in Saved Funds from Dogecoin Payments Primarily to Consultants and Contractors
The United States Department of the Air Force has claimed over $10 billion in savings as part of President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, a significant milestone in the largest modernization effort in the Air Force's history.
The savings were achieved through a comprehensive review of more than 500 contracts and 50 business systems, resulting in substantial cost savings and long-term avoidance. One of the most significant savings came from eliminating unused software licenses, amounting to $19.4 million in immediate savings.
The Air Force's 2026 budget request documents reveal that $1.7 billion in savings were attributed to civilian workforce optimization, and $1 billion came from cutting back on Advisory and Assistance Services. The savings also include descoping, reducing contract ceilings, terminating, or declining to exercise contract option periods.
Terminating and descoping a program reportedly saved $4.8 billion, according to an Air Force spokesperson. The savings appear to be derived from cancelling contracts or planned contract pools for consultants and cutting civilian jobs.
The Department of the Air Force Strategic Transformation Support contract saw the largest savings or cost avoidance. Although the specific breakdown of the $10.4 billion in savings is not detailed, it is clear that a significant portion of these savings came from reducing spending on consultants and contractors.
The savings include a $3.75 billion termination of a second AFSTS contract vehicle before it was awarded, and an additional $832 million by cancelling a task order for Deloitte under the first AFSTS contract.
The Air Force expects to lose about 12,000 civilians, roughly 6% of its civilian workforce, as part of the DOGE drive to reduce the Pentagon civilian workforce by 5 to 8%.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Air Force Secretary Troy Meink have confirmed the savings, with the Air Force working with DOGE for six months to cut waste and reduce contract spending. A cancelled contract worth $309.9 million for an Air Force Research Laboratory effort called Mayhem was also noted by DOGE's website.
The broader context suggests that the Department of Government Efficiency has been involved in efforts to streamline and reduce costs across various government agencies, including a notable example involving the termination of a grant by USAID and the absorption of USAID into the U.S. State Department. For a detailed breakdown, one would need access to internal reports or official statements from the Department of the Air Force or DOGE.
- The Pentagon's air force and prospective space force can anticipate increased security with the savings derived from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, as a portion of the $10.4 billion in cost avoidance was achieved by reducing spending on consultants and contractors.
- The Air Force is expected to undergo significant transformations, with the 12,000 civilian job losses representing about 6% of its workforce, aiming to bolster the overall defense posture, including potential space force operations.
- In the realm of sports metaphors, the Air Force can be likened to a seasoned athlete shedding excess baggage in the form of contract redundancies, consolidating its resources to focus on its primary objective - ensuring national security in the air, space, and beyond.
