Rep. James Comer (R-KY) and Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) are raising the alarm about questionable charges on Defense Department charge cards, including money spent at casinos.
Comer and Ernst demanded a sweeping reform of the system and a comprehensive review of all federal charge card programs by the Government Accountability Office in a letter obtained by the Washington Examiner to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro.
The letter appears to be prompted by a Department of Government Efficiency audit that revealed around 4.6 million active cards. After several weeks, that number was reduced to 470,000 cards. There has been $40 billion in spending on the cards, the pair of lawmakers wrote.
Ernst blasted the program’s odd spending, including more than 11,000 transactions on casino ATMs, mobile application stores, and at bars. She has been a strong DOGE advocate and created the Senate DOGE Caucus.
“It is indefensible for Department of Defense bureaucrats to waste tax dollars at clubs, casinos, and bars, racking up charges on Super Bowl Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, and federal holidays,” Ernst said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “With Washington $36 trillion in debt, the last thing we need is bureaucrats maxing out their tab and sticking taxpayers with the bill. There should never be more credit cards than federal employees, and I’m working to create accountability government-wide. It’s time to cut up the plastic and put a stop to the reckless spending.”
Comer and Ernst said no Pentagon officials who oversee the program “could provide examples of analyzing purchase card spending patterns to identify cost-saving opportunities.”
Comer, the House Oversight Committee chairman, agreed with Ernst that officials should not be spending money on apps or at bars.
“American taxpayers shouldn’t be stuck paying for federal bureaucrats’ splurges on government-issued credit cards,” Comer said in a statement to Fox News. “Tax dollars are meant to fund essential government services, not dating apps, nightclubs, or bar tabs.”
The pair wrote that there have been multiple reports from the DOD on the charge card issue, “and the problem has not improved.” They are asking Dodaro to direct the GAO to examine multiple issues including how agencies determine who is issued charge cards, the extent agencies can monitor and address charge card issues, how much agencies spend on charge card late fees, and the guidance agencies have issued on “split purchases” that occur when employees divide transactions to stay under the $3,500 limit.
TRACKING WHAT DOGE IS DOING ACROSS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced $5.1 billion in department cuts in April, including money for private sector firms, an IT services contract, and millions in paused funds for universities that “tolerate antisemitism and support divisive DEI programs.”
The Pentagon is one of DOGE’s top priorities because of its alleged loose handle on its funds. It has failed several audits, possibly losing track of billions of dollars.