The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has uncovered that the U.S. government currently holds over 4 million active credit cards. These cards were responsible for approximately 90 million transactions, amounting to around $40 billion in spending for the fiscal year 2024. DOGE, led by billionaire Elon Musk, made this revelation public through a post on X (formerly known as Twitter).
The post included a detailed breakdown of multiple federal agencies’ credit card use, with one leading agency accounting for about 27.2 million transactions and roughly 2.4 million individual accounts. This discovery has intensified scrutiny of DOGE’s operations, particularly under Musk’s leadership. Critics argue that too much power has been consolidated in Musk’s hands to curb the size of the federal government.
The department has sparked numerous lawsuits as opponents attempt to stop the Trump administration from carrying out many of DOGE’s proposed budget cuts. Despite the opposition, President Donald Trump has continually expressed strong support for DOGE’s mission. In a recent memo, he ordered government agencies to practice “radical transparency” with American taxpayers regarding federal spending.
DogE reveals government credit card surge
DOGE has pledged to announce changes to the government credit card system within a week. DOGE is working with the agencies to simplify the program and reduce administrative costs – we will report back in 1 week,” the department stated in their post on X.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the federal government employed just over 3 million people in 2024, highlighting a discrepancy as more credit cards are in circulation than there are federal employees. The General Services Administration (GSA), which manages the program, notes that government contractors may also be eligible for these credit cards. The federal government has faced several scandals over the years regarding misuse of taxpayer-funded credit cards.
A recent audit of the Department of Defense’s travel charge program revealed that 12% of credit card purchases might have breached the Pentagon’s spending policies in 2023. Under President Trump, DOGE aims to cut at least $1 trillion in government spending. The Musk-led initiative claims it has already saved taxpayers about $55 billion since Trump’s inauguration.
Following concerns raised by DOGE, the GSA has paused the use of payment cards issued to employees and certain contractors. The agency is working to strengthen its SmartPay program by “reducing administrative costs, streamlining processes, and improving oversight.”
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