Ernst, Comer Demand Crackdown on Government Credit Cards

WASHINGTON – After a highly concerning report revealed Pentagon bureaucrats used government charge cards for more than 11,000 transactions at “known high-risk merchants,” including casinos, night clubs, and bars, U.S. Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) are commissioning a government-wide review of federal charge card programs.

Among the issues raised by the lawmakers to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) is a recent U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) audit finding which revealed the federal government maintains approximately 4.6 million active charge cards and accounts, nearly double the number of federal employees.

“With tens of billions in taxpayer funds at stake each year, a comprehensive assessment is urgently needed to identify systemic risks, eliminate inefficiencies, and restore accountability to federal charge card programs. To better understand the scope of this issue and to inform potential reforms, we request the GAO conduct a comprehensive review of the issuance and management of government purchase, travel, fleet, and integrated charge cards and accounts across federal agencies subject to the Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act of 1990,” wrote the lawmakers.

Click here to view the letter.

###