DOGE efforts save $400 million as Labor Department slashes ‘wasteful’ Biden-era programs

The Department of Labor made headlines this week as it announced the termination of $400 million in spending that it deemed wasteful. This move comes as part of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) efforts to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related grants from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

According to a spokesperson from the department, all of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) ARPA grants have been terminated, resulting in approximately $400 million in savings. The department cited the need to address an unemployment system that has been plagued by fraud, waste, and abuse, referring to it as an “infrastructure crisis.”

Among the cuts made from the $2 trillion legislation signed into law by former President Joe Biden in 2021 were initiatives such as creating an “Office of the Unemployed Workers’ Advocate” and funding an “Equitable Access Director.” Other programs that were slashed included efforts to analyze business processes for equity, develop an equity analytics dashboard, study the equity of the unemployment system, conduct a DEIA assessment, and fund equity monitor staff.

Labor Department spokesperson Courtney Parella emphasized that the focus moving forward will be on improving the UI system to better meet the needs of American workers and reduce instances of fraud. The department will continue to collaborate with state workforce agencies across the country to achieve these goals.

This recent announcement follows earlier revelations by DOGE that tens of thousands of unemployment claims for suspiciously old and young claimants were approved in the years following 2020. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer expressed a commitment to recovering fraudulent unemployment payments and rooting out any instances of fraud within the system.

In April, it was reported that $1.4 billion of unspent COVID funding would be returned to taxpayers through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s General Fund, with efforts underway to recover the remaining $2.9 billion. The Department of Labor has been proactive in identifying and addressing issues of waste and inefficiency within government spending.

As of the latest update on the DOGE website, the Department of Labor ranks in the top 5 of departments that have made cuts through the program. Overall, DOGE claims to have saved each American taxpayer approximately $1,055.90.

In conclusion, the Department of Labor’s decision to terminate $400 million in DEI-related spending signals a shift towards prioritizing efficiency and accountability in government programs. By identifying and addressing areas of waste and fraud, the department aims to better serve American workers and ensure that taxpayer dollars are used responsibly.

This article was written by Andrew Mark Miller, a reporter at Fox News. For more updates, you can find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller or email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.