SAVE program introduced to reward federal employees for cost-saving ideas

On September 10, 2025, the Treasury Department and the General Services Administration (GSA) officially introduced a new initiative called the Savings Award for Verified Efficiencies, commonly known as the SAVE program. This program aims to significantly reduce wasteful federal contract spending by encouraging federal employees to propose cost-saving ideas. Employees are invited to suggest various improvements, including the cancellation of unnecessary contracts or the optimization of current ones. These proposals are expected to result in savings for taxpayers by streamlining operations within federal agencies. The SAVE program builds on past efforts, such as GSA's 'Defend the Spend' initiative, which previously focused on identifying smarter spending opportunities in government contracts. The intention behind these measures is to align with the Trump administration's broader goal of promoting fiscal responsibility within federal spending practices. By implementing the SAVE program, the GSA Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum emphasized the need for utilizing common-sense business tactics, asserting that this initiative will be both rapid and efficient, allowing for timely payouts once the proposed savings have been verified. Once an employee submits a proposal, it undergoes a rigorous vetting process. Initially, Treasury's Office of the Procurement Executive evaluates the idea before it is further reviewed by the GSA, which confirms the legitimacy of the proposed savings and ensures compliance with acquisition regulations. This two-layered review system serves as a safeguard, designed to foster transparency and fairness in awarding the monetary incentives associated with the program. Officials have expressed optimism about the potential impact of the SAVE program. If the initiative proves successful in its preliminary phase, there is a possibility that it could be expanded across various federal agencies, creating a systematic approach to reducing costs and enhancing the management of taxpayer dollars. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent articulated this vision, describing the program as a benchmark for responsible stewardship of public funds while looking forward to collaboration with other governmental partners to maximize the effective use of taxpayer resources.