DOGE Cancels $33K Snow Removal Contract to Cut Costs

DOGE Targets Snow Removal Contracts in Connecticut

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), known for canceling high-profile defense and technology contracts in Connecticut, has now turned its attention to a seemingly minor expense: snow removal. The agency recently terminated a $33,518 contract with DLTC Landscape Contractors, a Bridgeport-based company that provided snow plowing and salt spreading services at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s laboratory in Milford. This decision highlights DOGE’s broad approach to cost-cutting, even targeting smaller expenses as part of its larger strategy to reduce government spending.

According to records from the DOGE database, the contract was originally set to expire on October 31 but was officially ended on April 30. The termination was classified as “for convenience,” a clause that allows the government to end a contract without needing to provide a reason or pay damages. The Defense Acquisition University, part of the U.S. Department of Defense, explains that this clause is used when the government determines it is in its best interest to terminate a contract.

The agreement between DLTC and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was responsible for maintaining the Milford facility, which operates under NOAA’s jurisdiction. While DOGE claims the cancellation will save the government approximately $16,948, this figure has not been independently verified.

David Owoyemi, president of DLTC, expressed surprise about the termination during a recent phone call. The company, which offers landscaping and other commercial services across Connecticut, had been working at the Milford facility since January 2023. This incident is just one example of the dozens of contracts that DOGE has canceled with Connecticut-based vendors since its formation under the Trump administration. Many of these cancellations have involved multi-million-dollar deals.

One of the most affected companies has been Gartner, a Stamford-based advisory firm focused on business and technology. Gartner has lost over two dozen contracts across multiple federal agencies, including four recently canceled deals worth about $13.7 million. These cancellations are estimated to have saved the government $10.8 million.

Other Connecticut entities impacted by the cuts include CeLeen, an information technology company owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which lost nearly $70 million in contracts.

Despite the absence of its de facto leader, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who left his government role in May after a disagreement with the president, DOGE has continued its efforts to cut government spending. This includes firing staff and terminating grants, contracts, and leases.

The Trump administration has stated that these actions are part of a broader initiative to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within the government. According to DOGE’s website, the agency has achieved $206 billion in savings nationwide.

The Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Milford laboratory, located on Long Island Sound, is recognized as a “world leader in aquaculture science” on NOAA’s website. The facility was established to support sustainable oyster harvests in Connecticut waters.

In 2024, the lab began implementing a new method for growing batches of oysters. This technique aims to make the oysters more resilient to changing water temperatures caused by climate change. Scientists hope this innovation will benefit oyster farmers throughout the Northeast by introducing stronger oyster stocks that can meet increasing market demands.