After a report revealed misuse of government charge cards by Pentagon officials, two prominent lawmakers are calling for a comprehensive review of federal charge card programs. The report found over 11,000 transactions at “known high-risk merchants,” including casinos and nightclubs.
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and U.S. Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) have initiated this oversight effort. They have requested the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a thorough examination of federal charge card systems.
The audit by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) disclosed that the federal government currently holds approximately 4.6 million active charge cards and accounts. This has raised concerns about potential risks and inefficiencies in managing taxpayer funds.
“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,” wrote Comer and Ernst in their letter to the GAO. They emphasized the need for understanding the scope of these issues to inform potential reforms.
The lawmakers’ request specifically asks for an evaluation of purchase, travel, fleet, and integrated charge cards across agencies under the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990.
For more details on their request, you can view the letter through this link.
