DOGE, the US Department of Government Efficiency, has refuted a Reuters report suggesting its disbandment, calling it ‘fake news.’ The agency asserts it is still active, highlighting recent cost-cutting measures such as terminating 78 wasteful contracts and saving $335 million for taxpayers. Reuters had previously claimed the agency had effectively disbanded, with Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor stating it ‘doesn’t exist’ as a centralized entity. The report noted that DOGE’s functions have been absorbed into other government departments, and staff had vacated its headquarters in June. Despite the controversy, DOGE plans to resume regular updates, citing Trump’s mandate to modernize government operations and curb waste. President Donald Trump launched DOGE shortly after taking office in January, billing it as a sweeping effort to slash federal waste and bureaucracy. Elon Musk was appointed as the government efficiency czar. In a statement on X, DOGE accused Reuters of spreading ‘fake news’ and emphasized Trump’s mandate to modernize government operations and curb waste, fraud, and abuse. The agency claimed that ‘just last week, DOGE terminated 78 wasteful contracts and saved taxpayers $335M,’ and would return with its ‘regularly scheduled’ Friday update in the coming days. The Reuters report alleged that Trump administration officials had begun referring to DOGE in the past tense, suggesting the agency’s dissolution. It added that key employees have been absorbed into other parts of the US government, and the government-wide hiring freeze tied to DOGE had ended. The report noted that several of the unit’s initial measures were no longer in effect, while Musk’s departure from Washington in May intensified speculation about the agency’s future. Questions about the agency’s future surfaced in June after a public feud between Musk and Trump over the president’s flagship ‘big, beautiful bill.’ Musk quit as head of DOGE and left Washington amid the dispute. Uncertainty over the department’s status had been building for months, with Politico earlier reporting that staff had vacated its headquarters in June, packing up ‘clothes and bedding.’ The agency had become known for unannounced office visits, deep spending cuts, and mass layoffs. DOGE’s actions have sparked debate over its effectiveness and the impact of its policies on government operations and efficiency.