The government’s Ministry of Efficiency (DOGE) has revealed a staggering waste of taxpayer money. An audit focused on the Department of Labor (DOL) and other agencies exposed shocking contradictions ranging from thousands of idol Microsoft 365 accounts to $20,000 spent on Winzip licenses.
Less than two weeks after Elon Musk’s Doge team discovered the $100 billion Medicare and Medicaid scam, the discovery surfaced, calling it the “epicenter of fraud.”
Too many software licenses, too few users
The audit was conducted again at the Ministry of Labor, with the initial findings drawing a troubling picture of wasteful spending.
The numbers didn’t lie. 380 The Microsoft 365 license is not fully used, but was never assigned to an employee. The meeting room software was another obvious issue, with 128 Microsoft Teams licenses being purchased, but there were only 30 rooms that actually had the system installed.
Later, despite being a free and open source tool, Visual Studio Code (VSCODE) 250 license – Baffle Discovery came out. Only 33 in use suggests confusion between VSCode and Microsoft’s paid Visual Studio software.
The design software was also inevitable. An audit revealed 129 Photoshop licenses, but only 22 employees used them.
Perhaps the most head-turning detail was cybersecurity spending. The Ministry of Labor has five cybersecurity licenses, each covering over 20,000 seats in a division with fewer than 15,000 employees.
The numbers were clearly drawn. Federal agencies spent taxpayer dollars on software they didn’t need, used, or didn’t notice.
This audit was repeated at the Ministry of Labor. First result:
– 380 Microsoft 365 license with zero users
– 128 Microsoft Teams Conference Room license. Only installed in 30 rooms
– 250 VSCODE license. Use only 33
– 129 Photoshop license. I’m using only 22.
-5…https://t.co/xny8tkkowv– February 26, 2025, Government Efficiency (@Doge)
Doge’s survey results
Doge’s findings highlight repeated issues. Institutions pay far more software than they actually use. Some of the key findings from the audit are:
There were zero users with 380 Microsoft 365 licenses. There are 128 Microsoft Teams Conference Room licenses, but only 30 rooms use them. Despite the fact that VSCODE is free and only 33 are used, there are 250 Visual Studio Code (VSCODE) licenses. It is a 129 Photoshop license, but 22 is used. Five cybersecurity licenses covering 20,000 seats each for departments with fewer than 15,000 employees.
A post from Doge’s official account on X summed up the findings and raised more questions about how taxpayer money is allocated to software costs.
“In many cases, agents have more software licenses than employees. In many cases, the licenses are idle (that is, they are not installed on any computer).”
Winzip controversy
The most troublesome details? USAID reportedly spent more than $20,000 on its Winzip license. Winzip offers paid plans, but many users point out that there are free alternatives and that most people never pay for it.
This discovery has sparked distrust and humor online, questioning why the government should pay thousands of compression software when countless free options are available.
Government-wide software bloating
This issue is not limited to the Ministry of Labor. The General Services Administration (GSA) also showed extreme software bloating.
37,000 Winzip licenses in the division with 13,000 employees. 19,000 training software subscriptions running multiple platforms in parallel. 7,500 Project Management Software Sheets for a division of 5,500 employees. Three different ticketing systems are used simultaneously.
These numbers illustrate a big problem. Agents spend taxpayer money on software they don’t need, don’t use, or don’t even know they have.
Will something change?
Although the revisions are already underway, the audit raises greater questions about overexpenditure, accountability and procurement inefficiency in spending, Doge said. When software license waste is spreading across multiple sectors, how much waste is hidden in the outlook?
For taxpayers, the biggest problem remains when they are making bills.
Doge: Experiments with time limits
Doge’s lifespan is as bold as its target. The division is scheduled to be disbanded on July 4, 2026, marking its 250th anniversary. This tight deadline underscores our commitment to efficiency. “Doge’s ultimate success is obsolescence,” Musk said, adding a combination of wit and confidence signatures.
Doge
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