Department of Government Efficiency Investigates Itself After Employees Spent Taxpayer Money on Lifetime Supply of Office Stress Balls
A viral rumor claims the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) launched an investigation into its own spending after an internal audit revealed that $2.3 million of taxpayer funds were used to purchase a lifetime supply of branded stress balls for employees. The rumor, spreading on social media with the hashtag #StressBallGate, alleges that the purchase was approved under a "morale-building initiative" and that the investigation is now stalled because the lead investigator is reportedly "too stressed to work without a stress ball."
Our fact-check: This is fake. The Department of Government Efficiency does not currently exist as a U.S. federal agency. While there have been past legislative proposals to create a "Department of Government Efficiency" or "DOGE" (originally floated in a 2022 bill that never passed), no such department is operational. The story is fabricated, likely taking inspiration from the "Department of Government Efficiency" meme tied to the cryptocurrency Dogecoin. No taxpayer funds were used for stress balls, and no investigation is underway. The claim appears to be a satirical mix of government bureaucracy jokes and crypto culture.