They Were Swiping Like Crazy… Until DOGE Shut It All Down!

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has deactivated over 200,000 credit cards tied to federal agencies after an audit revealed they were either unused or unnecessary.

This move is part of a broader crackdown on government waste, fraud, and corruption, spearheaded by Elon Musk’s agency.

“Weekly Credit Card Update! Pilot program with 16 agencies to audit unused/unneeded credit cards,” DOGE announced on X.

“After 3 weeks, >200,000 cards have been de-activated. Great progress this past week by @HHSGov [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services] @Interior [U.S. Department of the Interior].”

At the beginning of the audit, federal agencies had more than 4.6 million active credit cards and accounts.

“So still more work to do,” DOGE added.

The exact financial impact on taxpayers remains unknown. However, DOGE previously reported that these credit cards facilitated 90 million transactions in the last fiscal year, amounting to roughly $40 billion in spending.

A total of 204,801 credit cards have been canceled, including 171,120 travel cards and 33,681 purchase cards.

Last month, DOGE said the 4.6 million credit cards were used for 90 million unique transactions, totaling around $40 billion worth of spending in FY24. (Getty Images)

Among the affected agencies are the General Services Administration (GSA), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Labor Department, Small Business Administration (SBA), Education Department, Treasury Department, Commerce Department, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Agriculture Department (USDA), NASA, Homeland Security, Social Security Department, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The Interior Department recorded the highest number of cancellations, with nearly 20,000 purchase cards and close to 40,000 travel cards terminated. The Department of Health and Human Services followed with over 43,700 travel credit cards and 2,235 purchase cards canceled.

Notably, the State Department was the only agency among the 16 to emerge from the audit without any canceled credit cards.

Last month, Musk attended President Donald Trump’s first Cabinet meeting, where he outlined plans to cut $1 trillion in government spending through DOGE. The goal is to curb the national debt, currently estimated at $36.5 trillion.

Musk has warned about growing deficits, stating that America “simply cannot sustain” the current $2 trillion shortfall.

“If this continues, the country will go, become de facto bankrupt,” Musk said.

President Donald Trump speaks as Elon Musk, joined by his son X Æ A-Xii, listens in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. Musk described DOGE as “not an optional thing” and argued that it was “central” to reforming the U.S. economy. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

He emphasized that DOGE is “not an optional thing” but “central” to fixing the U.S. economy.

In a separate development, DOGE uncovered alarming financial mismanagement. Investigators found that the Small Business Administration (SBA) had approved nearly 5,600 loans, totaling $312 million, to children.

Records indicate that these loans, granted in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, were issued to borrowers with listed owners aged 11 or younger. The purpose of these loans remains unclear.

The revelations underscore DOGE’s mission: to root out inefficiency and restore financial accountability in government spending.