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This is part two of a two-part series that examines DOGE's actions so far and what the future holds for the temporary agency. Read part one here.Part two examines the efficacy of the agency and what the future holds.Is DOGE saving money?Musk initially promised to save the federal government $2 trillion. But over time, that projection has shrunk—from $1 trillion, to $500 billion, and now to just $160 billion. For context, that would save about 2% from last year’s total federal budget of $6.75 trillion.“I’m excited to announce that we anticipate savings in (Fiscal Year) ��26 from reduction of waste and fraud by $150 billion,�� Musk said in an April Cabinet meeting.Questions have since emerged about whether Musk’s latest estimate is feasible or accurate.Several media outlets have reported that DOGE has posted misleading budget data on its website. In one instance, DOGE claimed it saved $8 billion by canceling a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement contract that was actually worth just $8 million. Other reports show DOGE taking credit for terminating contracts that were either never approved or had already been canceled under President Joe Biden.A recent analysis by the Partnership for Public Service suggests that DOGE’s sweeping workforce cuts may end up costing the government money. The report estimates that the combination of layoffs, rehirings, lost productivity, and paid leave for thousands of federal workers could total more than $135 billion this fiscal year.At the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) alone, proposed cuts, including the dismissal of 22,000 workers, could result in $8.5 billion in lost revenue in 2026, according to The Budget Lab at Yale University.“Tax revenues may be lost to tax evasion from people who know they can get away with it,�� Jessica Reidl, a former chief economist for GOP Sen. Rob Portman, said. “Mainly, large corporations and rich individuals who may be more willing to roll the dice and underpay their taxes because the IRS won’t audit them.“That will dwarf whatever small savings DOGE is accomplishing,�� added Reidl, a self-described “fiscal conservative�� who works as a senior fellow for the Manhattan Institute, a right-leaning think tank.Video below: IRS workforce cuts raise concerns during tax seasonMatt Weidinger, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a center-right think tank, remains more optimistic about DOGE’s initiative. He sees potential for long-term savings as DOGE, in his view, shifts its focus from workforce cuts and budget reductions to modernizing federal data systems.Specifically, he would like to see DOGE utilize more efficient data processing to crack down on unemployment benefit fraud, which DOGE estimates is up to $382 million. The Government Accountability Office says it's closer to $145 billion.“If you filter for age, there were tens of thousands of claimants who sure seem like they shouldn’t have been given unemployment benefits since the pandemic,�� said Weidinger, a former deputy staff director for the House Ways and Means Committee. “My take on that is it’s good (DOGE) is reviewing those things. There’s a lot more to that story.”Weidinger said that he is not hung up on DOGE’s bottom-line projections. Rather, DOGE’s cultural impact of prioritizing the debt is paramount, he said, and any savings are a step in the right direction.“We’re running $2 trillion annual deficits in good times. We’re spending $1 trillion on interest on the debt, which is more than we spend on federal programs for children,�� Weidinger said. Adding, “Change is hard, and (cutting) $150 billion in wasteful spending is a good day's work. It’s a fraction of what American taxpayers lost during the pandemic. So that leaves a lot to be done, but it’s $150 billion closer to the goal.”What’s the future of DOGE?Earlier this month, Musk said on a Tesla earnings call that he plans to reduce his role at DOGE soon.“Starting next month, May, my time allocation to DOGE will drop significantly,�� Musk said.As a special government employee (SGE), Musk is legally permitted to serve only 130 days within a 365-day period. Whether he will adhere to that limit remains unclear, though Delaney Marsco isn’t optimistic.Marsco, a senior legal counsel for ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, said Musk’s entire tenure has pushed the legal and ethical boundaries of the SGE designation.“What President Trump and Elon Musk have done with DOGE and, specifically, with Musk’s role in DOGE is a bit unprecedented,�� Marsco said. “Typically, SGEs are more in these advisory roles; they’re serving very short periods of time, sometimes SGEs are hired on for days. These are folks typically brought in to weigh in on a very discrete area of regulatory policy.“So, it’s a little bit odd to have someone with this classification be working at a senior level and have this broad power to make changes in the federal government,�� Marsco added.As speculation about Musk’s role grows, so do the legal challenges facing DOGE.The agency is now battling more than 20 lawsuits over its mass firings, dismantling of agencies, funding freezes, handling of sensitive data, and alleged lack of transparency.A few of DOGE’s actions have been blocked, at least for now, leaving it uncertain what will ultimately hold up in court.DOGE’s and Musk’s favorability with the American public has also dipped significantly. Most polls released this month show both under 50% approval. Moreover, a majority of respondents believe that DOGE is cutting “too much,�� and its actions are negatively impacting the country.That sentiment was tangibly demonstrated in the March Wisconsin Supreme Court election. Musk campaigned on the ground and poured millions of dollars into the race, even offering $1 million checks to voters. It was the first major race since the 2024 election, setting up a referendum on the current administration. But, in a state that Trump carried, Musk’s efforts were unsuccessful, as the Democrats' choice for judge won the election.According to the executive order that established it, DOGE is set to expire on July 4, 2026.Whatever lies ahead, one thing is certain: in just 100 days, DOGE has altered the federal government in ways that are likely to be felt long after its mandate, or Musk’s role, will end.