Elon Musk boasted about how much he'd saved taxpayers when he was running the Department of Government Efficiency. CBS News took a close look at some of the numbers and found the money saved doesn't line up with what DOGE is saying.

Washington

A recent analysis has found that DOGE, a federal operation initiated by Elon Musk, significantly overstated the savings from its largest budget cuts. While DOGE claimed to have saved $6.4 billion from three major contract cancellations, a CBS review determined the actual savings amounted to only $165 million, a discrepancy of 97 percent. 

The contracts in question were related to COVID-19 testing and treatment, and most of the funds had already been used before the cancellations. Experts have highlighted the complexity of federal procurement as a possible reason for the reporting errors. The findings have prompted calls for greater transparency and accuracy in how such savings are reported.

DOGE overstated savings of its largest cuts by 97%, analysis finds

ELON MUSK MAY HAVE LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE IN MAY, BUT THE WORK OF THE OPERATION HE STARTED LIVES ON, DOCUMENTED ON WHAT DOGE CALLS ITS ONLINE WALL OF RECEIPTS. We cut hundreds of billions of dollars with Doge. BUT ANALYSTS WHO CLOSELY STUDY FEDERAL BUDGETS TELL US THAT IS AN EXAGGERATION, AS ARE SOME CLAIMS ON THE WALL OF RECEIPTS. A CBS NEWS REVIEW OF THREE OF THE LARGEST CUTS LISTED THERE SHOWS THE ACTUAL SAVINGS WERE NOT A COMBINED 6.4 BILLION DOLLARS AS CLAIMED, BUT 165 MILLION. IN OTHER WORDS, DOGE WAS OFF BY 97 PERCENT. I think there are a lot of stakeholders out there who are rightly questioning these numbers. RACHEL SNEIDERMAN IS AN ECONOMIC POLICY EXPERT AT THE BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER. Why hasn't Doge changed the way it reports its cuts? Why are we still getting these accounting errors? I think part of it is that the federal procurement process is extraordinarily complicated. I think we are talking about these very large-scale contracts that have, in some cases, multiple third-party actors who are bidding on them. IN THIS CASE, THE THREE CANCELLED CONTRACTS ALL FUNDED COVID-19 TESTING AND TREATMENT DURING THE PANDEMIC. NEARLY ALL THE MONEY HAD ALREADY BEEN PUT TO USE BEFORE DOGE CANCELLED THE CONTRACTS. THIS AFTERNOON, I ASKED PRESIDENT TRUMP ABOUT THE CUTS TO COME. How much more would you like Doge to cut from the federal government? It's not a question of Doge. We have great people, secretaries and all, working with Doge and cutting with a, I said with a scalpel as opposed to with an axe, cutting with a fine-tooth comb. And there's more cutting to do, but there's also more getting. We want smart people in government. Speaking of smart people in government, Nancy, what more can you tell us about the sudden move to fill those vacancies at the National Weather Service? Maurice, we have confirmed that the Weather Service has been granted special permission to hire about 450 meteorologists and other weather-related personnel to try to fill that big hole that was left when hundreds of forecasters were either fired or offered early exits by Doge just a few months ago. And this comes amid concerns that the Weather Service may not be operating at full strength as hurricane season heats up. Separate topic here. Bill and Hillary Clinton and several former attorneys general from around the country and from Washington, they got subpoenas from Congress. What's going on there? These are subpoenas that were issued by the Republican-led House Oversight Committee to a number of former officials from both parties, including the Clintons, who knew Epstein. Now, it is worth noting, Maurice, that Congress has never successfully compelled a former president to testify. The last one to testify voluntarily was Gerald Ford back in 1983. OK. Nancy Cordes at the White House. Thank you.

Officials reported an active shooter incident at the Fort Stewart military base in Georgia. CBS News' Shanelle Kaul has the latest details.

Fort Stewart

Active shooter incident triggers lockdown at Fort Stewart in Georgia

A Russian official said President Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, had a "useful and constructive" conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

Witkoff, Putin had 'useful and constructive conversation'

The U.S. aims to deploy nuclear power reactors on the Moon and Mars, targeting the first launch by decade’s end. A new NASA directive, revealed by Politico and AFP, calls for appointing a nuclear power czar to choose two commercial proposals within six months, aiming to outpace a Chinese-Russian collaboration.

NASA races to put nuclear reactors on Moon and Mars

Japan held a memorial service and ceremony for victims and the remaining survivors of the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, marking its 80th anniversary and renewing pledges of working towards a world without nuclear weapons.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima marks 80th anniversary since U.S. atomic bombing

U.S. Special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday as President Trump's deadline for a ceasefire with Ukraine looms.

U.S. envoy Witkoff meets Putin as Trump's sanctions deadline nears

The U.S. is warning travelers as cases of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness, spreads in China. Health officials in China have ordered mass disinfection measures. The region near Hong Kong reported more than 7,000 cases in recent weeks.

Beijing

U.S. warns travelers as cases of chikungunya increase in China

Japan has commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing during World War II. Ceremonies at Peace Memorial Park honoured the victims of the 1945 nuclear attack by US forces.

Japan’s Hiroshima marks 80 years since U.S. atomic bombing

Multiple media outlets in Israel have reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants a complete military takeover of Gaza, while almost 600 former Israeli military and security officials are petitioning Washington to stop the fighting.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Netanyahu reportedly wants complete Gaza takeover

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday that he had a productive talk with President Trump focused on ending the war with Russia. CBS News national security contributor Samantha Vinograd has more.

Kyiv

Zelenskyy holds 'productive talks' with Trump about war

Family members of two of the victims from the 2023 implosion are demanding tougher regulations following the damning report released on Tuesday. Five people died when the submersible imploded off the coast of Newfoundland.

Deadly Titan submersible disaster was preventable, Coast Guard says

The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed multiple people over the Jeffrey Epstein files, including former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. CBS News' Jake Rosen has more details.

House committee subpoenas Clintons, others over Epstein files

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents have been directed through a federal court order to stop deportations under President Trump's asylum ban, sources say. CBS News' Camilo Montoya-Galvez has more details.

Court blocks deportations under Trump's asylum ban, sources say

A man suspected of murdering four family members in Tennessee has been captured after a four-day manhunt, authorities said. CBS News' Nicole Valdes has more.

Jackson

Suspect arrested in murders of 4 Tennessee family members

The ruling comes a month after Brazil’s top court ordered the former president to wear an ankle monitor, submit to a curfew and abide by limitations on his activity as legal proceedings investigating an alleged coup plot continue.

State of Rio de Janeiro

Brazil's Supreme Court orders house arrest of Bolsonaro

The US and Lebanon have been holding talks on a roadmap to fully disarm Hezbollah. Lebanon's new leadership has pledged to extend its authority across all its territory but has so far avoided acting against Hezbollah.

Beirut

Lebanon faces renewed pressure to disarm Hezbollah

CBC News had exclusive access to a Canadian Armed Forces plane that dropped about 10,000 kilograms of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the first time Canada joined the airdrop operations. Several countries airdropped food on Monday, but aid organizations agree they are more symbolic than effective.

Ottawa

Canadian military makes aid drop into Gaza

The Prime Minister's Office said to the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir that, "If this does not suit him, you should resign."

Israel's Netanyahu says decision made for full occupation of Gaza

Delegates are gathering this week at the United Nations in Geneva, attempting to negotiate a global treaty to curb plastic pollution. But diplomats and climate advocates warn that efforts by the European Union and small island states to cap virgin plastic production are threatened by opposition.

Geneva

Strong UN treaty on plastic pollution in doubt as talks resume

President Trump announced Friday on social media that he ordered two nuclear submarines to move into more strategic positions near Russia. On Monday, Russian officials downplayed the comments and warned about the risk of nuclear rhetoric.

Russia downplays Trump's announcement about nuclear submarines

U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer told "Face the Nation" that tariff rates are "pretty much set" ahead of President Trump's Aug. 7 deadline. CBS News MoneyWatch correspondent Kelly O'Grady has the latest.

Global Tariffs

White House holds firm on tariff rates ahead on Aug. 7 deadline

Donald Trump confirmed his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia, ahead of a deadline the U.S. president has set for Russia to agree to end the Ukraine war or face new sanctions. Witkoff is expected in Moscow in the middle of this week.

U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff expected to visit Russia

New images of emaciated Israeli hostages held in Gaza have horrified Israelis and added pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire with Hamas, even as his government considers another expansion of the nearly 22-month war.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Videos of hostages increase pressure on Netanyahu for ceasefire

Pope Leo XIV wrapped up a weekend jubilee for more than 1 million young Catholics at a Rome suburb. As a new generation from around the globe celebrated, the pope drew attention to their peers in Ukraine and Gaza who cannot.

Rome

Pope Leo XIV addresses Gaza, Ukraine at youth festival

A shipwreck off Yemen has killed at least 68 people, the UN's migration agency said, with dozens still missing after the boat carrying mostly Ethiopians sank.

Sana'a

Migrant boat sinks off Yemen, killing at least 68

After two unverified videos of Israeli hostages were released, Hamas said the hunger crisis in the region puts them at risk. The militant group said it would deliver food from the Red Cross to the hostages under a couple of conditions, including permanent humanitarian corridors.

Hamas says hunger crisis putting hostages at risk

U.S. President Donald Trump fired the U.S. commissioner of labour statistics after weak jobs numbers signaled tariffs weren’t yet leading to his promised economic boom.

Trump dismisses weak jobs numbers, fires labour statistics chief

Government scientists warn that the 2025 wildfire season in North America is projected to be the longest ever, with fires already causing significant damage across the western United States and Canada. Major blazes have led to evacuations, destruction of historic sites, and widespread air quality alerts.

Santa Barbara

Wildfire season in North America shaping as worst on record

A volcano in Russia's Far East has erupted after sitting dormant for 600 years. Scientists believe the eruption was triggered by the massive earthquake that struck the region last week.

Kamchatka Peninsula

Russian volcano erupts for first time in 600 years

An independent watchdog agency responsible for enforcing a law against partisan political activity by federal employees has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the special counsel who brought two criminal cases against Donald Trump before his election to the White House last year.

Former Trump prosecutor Jack Smith faces probe by U.S. watchdog

New outbreaks of violence overnight into Sunday (August 3) rocked Syria straining a fragile ceasefire. Meanwhile residents in Sweida are calling access to more humanitarian aid.

Breakdown