After a report disclosed misuse of government charge cards by Pentagon officials, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer and U.S. Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst are calling for a thorough review of federal charge card programs. The report revealed over 11,000 transactions at high-risk merchants such as casinos, night clubs, and bars.
The lawmakers highlighted concerns in a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), referencing an audit by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that found approximately 4.6 million active charge cards and accounts within the federal government.
"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. They requested that the GAO conduct a detailed review of the issuance and management of various government charge cards across agencies governed by the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990.
