DOGE identifies thousands of ‘unused or unnecessary’ government cards
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has shut down over 200,000 federal credit cards across 16 agencies in an effort to cut government spending.
This action comes after an audit revealed a large number of cards that were either unused or no longer needed. DOGE says it found these after a seven-week investigation. Out of the 4.6 million credit cards issued to federal employees, the agency flagged hundreds of thousands as unnecessary.
The Department of the Interior saw the highest number of deactivations, losing around 20,000 purchase cards and 40,000 travel cards. The Department of Health and Human Services came next, with more than 43,700 travel cards and 2,235 purchase cards canceled.
Elon Musk, who oversees DOGE, has raised concerns about unchecked government spending. He stressed the importance of ongoing efforts to streamline operations and eliminate waste.
Despite the bold figures, DOGE’s credibility has come under fire. The agency has been accused of presenting misleading data and inaccurate savings.
While DOGE originally claimed to have saved $55 billion through its initiatives, investigations revealed major discrepancies. According to Axios, one notable example involved a reported $8 billion ICE contract cancellation. In reality, the contract was worth $8 million, with $3.8 million already spent—leaving actual savings at just $4.2 million.
Further scrutiny of DOGE’s so-called “Wall of Receipts”—a collection of claimed savings—showed repeated errors. Several contracts were counted multiple times or included despite already being canceled before DOGE’s review.
Critics warn that DOGE’s aggressive cost-cutting may backfire. Ending bulk purchasing agreements, for instance, could mean losing negotiated discounts, potentially driving up future costs if those services or products are needed again.
Lawmakers are now pushing for more transparency in DOGE’s operations to limit the damage they believe may be happening in the name of efficiency.
