DOGE finds nearly $40 billion in spending linked to government-issued credit cards

NY Post ^ | 2/19/25 | Victor Nava

[Libloather]

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) pledged to “simplify” the federal government’s credit card program on Tuesday which cost taxpayers nearly $40 billion last year.

“The US government currently has ~4.6M active credit cards/accounts, which processed ~90M unique transactions for ~$40B of spend in FY24,” read an X post from the cost-cutting initiative’s official account.

“DOGE is working w/ the agencies to simplify the program and reduce admin costs,” the group added.

DOGE said it “will report back in 1 week” with its plan to disentangle the system.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that the federal government employed just over 3 million people in 2024 – meaning that more active credit cards are on file with federal government agencies than employees.

The General Services Administration, which runs the program, notes that government contractors may also be eligible for credit cards.

The spending data highlighted by DOGE is publicly available on the GSA website.

Since 1998, the GSA has managed the program, which issues credit cards linked to major banks to millions of employees at more than 250 federal agencies and Native American tribal governments.

GSA touts that it’s so-called “SmartPay” system enables government workers “to make purchases on behalf of the federal government in support of their agency’s mission” with “streamline transaction processing.”

The agency website states that the current system results in an “increase” in “accountability” and is “efficient and effective” at identifying “fraud, waste, and abuse.”

For decades, the federal government has been plagued with scandals involving the use of taxpayer-funded credit cards.

Over the years, government watchdogs have found everything from adult entertainment to LEGO toys to lavish multi-course meals being charged to taxpayers.

[Sequoyah101]

About 30 years ago now I traveled about 200 to 250 days a year. My bills usually ran to around $60,000 a year plus airfare amounting to about another $40,000 as I recall. We had been married about 20 years at that point. I found the best way to have peace at home was to have an account for expenses, a family account and gave my wife an annual allowance for household, food and her money. We still do a family and household account. Budget time isn’t fun, she doesn’t know how to do it, so I just give her a raise.

When I was a line manager we approved expense accounts and I hated it. If we missed something that didn’t pass audit we were accountable for it of course. I quickly became an ogre on the matter of expense accounts in every way. When you pay for it all and are reimbursed being careful is motivated.

When we had company cars the only charges allowed were gas, and oil. All service was done at a contract motor pool.

We tried credit cards in the individuals name. Just wasn’t worth it.

Policy in the company was that an irregular expense account item was a firing offense. Only saw it happen once.

In my travels I ate quite a bit of expense that I got behind receipts on. Trying to push it through just wasn’t worth the trouble.

[PIF]

Lose your gubmint job AND the free Starbucks, free strip clubs, free hookers, free high-end steak houses, free tropical vacations and cruises, etc

[hal ogen]

There is no end to the corruption of many (if not most) government employees. I hesitant to refer to them as government “workers”. Being a parasite is no way to go through life.

[Pocketdoor]

All of Army NG aircraft have their own credit cards. Pretty sure that goes nationwide. Gotta buy your fuel some how. Even if you’re buying from a military refueler. I would assume every vehicle and piece of equipment have their own cc also.

[maddog55]

I remember fuel cards but that’s all they were allocated for, fuel. Aircraft fuel was tied to squadron funding allotments along with GSE and motoroool vehicles. If you needed gas on the road for gov vehicles it was your gov CC and you got reimbursed. At least it used to be.

[Notthereyet]

” If you needed gas on the road for gov vehicles it was your gov CC and you got reimbursed.”
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When I was in the military I would see the occasional article concerning military court martials because some person would think the government would never catch on to the family car being gassed up using a military card or even at a military pump.

What puzzled me the most about the family car being filled up at the military gas pump... why didn’t *anyone* think to question that while it was actually happening???