The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Trump-era creation, just axed nearly 3,000 government phone lines, claiming it’s a bold strike against bureaucratic bloat, as Newsweek reports. This move, cheered by fiscal hawks, has critics crying foul over slashed services. It’s classic MAGA: cut first, answer questions later.

DOGE, launched by President Donald Trump with Elon Musk at the helm, expanded its phone line purge to save millions annually across federal agencies.

The program targets unused or redundant devices, a low-hanging fruit in the fight against government waste. Yet, the approach feels like swinging a sledgehammer where a scalpel might do.

In May, DOGE kicked off a pilot at the Office of Personnel Management, where 198 unused lines were cut in just one hour, saving $100,000 a year.

Emboldened, the agency turned its sights on the Small Business Administration. The speed of these cuts is either impressive or reckless, depending on your lens.

SBA overhaul ensues

The Small Business Administration bore the brunt of DOGE’s latest purge, deactivating 2,940 of 5,340 mobile phones, 6,505 of 9,195 VOIP licenses, and 661 of 686 landlines. This blitz, announced on X, saves $2.84 million annually. That’s real money, but at what cost to functionality?

Elon Musk, who stepped down as DOGE’s leader in May, crowed on X: “Government is wasting about $100 million per year on unused phone lines!” His math may check out, but his exit left DOGE’s vision looking more like a stunt than a strategy. Showmanship doesn’t guarantee results.

DOGE claims these cuts could scale government-wide, potentially saving $100 million a year if applied across all federal departments. They extrapolated from the Office of Personnel Management’s data, but critics argue other agencies might not have the same glut of unused lines. Optimism is great; overreach, less so.

Public support amid mixed feelings

A Harvard University/Harris Poll from May showed 63% of Americans back shrinking government size. That’s a mandate for DOGE’s mission, no question. But the same poll revealed 55% think DOGE’s effective, while 54% say it’s botching the execution—hardly a ringing endorsement.

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders chimed in on X, boasting: “We are now saving state taxpayers $1 million by eliminating unused phone lines.”

Her Arkansas Forward initiative mirrors DOGE’s playbook, proving the concept works locally. Why, then, does DOGE’s federal version feel so chaotic?

Immigration attorney Curtis Morrison sniped on X: “Government not answering phone, and DOGE solution is to cancel phone lines.” His jab lands -- cutting lines might save cash, but if it leaves citizens on hold, it’s a hollow victory. Efficiency shouldn’t mean abandonment.

Broader savings, lingering doubts

DOGE touts $170 billion in total savings, including $71 billion from axed contracts, grants, and leases. Those are eye-popping figures, enough to make any taxpayer cheer. But without transparency, it’s hard to know if these are real wins or just creative accounting.

The phone cuts began as a testbed for DOGE’s broader cost-cutting philosophy, starting small before scaling up. The logic is sound: trim the fat, then tackle the meat. Yet, the breakneck pace risks slicing into muscle, not just excess.

Newsweek reached out to the White House for comment on Saturday, but no response came. That silence speaks volumes -- either DOGE’s too busy cutting to talk, or they’re dodging hard questions. Neither inspires confidence.

Legal, practical challenges remain

DOGE faces legal hurdles over transparency, with critics demanding clearer accounting of its cuts. Without open books, it’s tough to trust the agency’s lofty claims. A little sunlight could go a long way here.

The Harvard poll, surveying 1,903 registered voters, had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.2 points, giving DOGE’s mixed reviews some statistical weight. Americans want leaner government, but they’re not sold on DOGE’s slash-and-burn tactics. That’s a warning sign for the agency’s future.

DOGE plans to keep slashing costs across federal agencies in the coming months, undeterred by pushback. Their resolve is admirable, but prudence should temper zeal. Taxpayers deserve savings, not chaos, and DOGE must prove it can deliver both.