James Comer and Joni Ernst urge investigation into DOD card charges
Representatives James Comer (R-KY) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) are calling for an examination into questionable spending on Department of Defense (DOD) charge cards,which includes substantial amounts spent at casinos and bars. They have formally requested a comprehensive review of federal charge card programs by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) following an audit that initially identified 4.6 million active cards, later reduced to 470,000. the audit also noted $40 billion in spending, which both lawmakers find concerning, especially as it includes thousands of transactions at casino ATMs and entertainment venues.
Ernst criticized this spending as wasteful, particularly given the national debt of $36 trillion, and expressed the necessity of cutting excessive credit card usage within the government.Comer echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that taxpayer dollars should not fund frivolous expenditures on non-essential services. They are asking the GAO to evaluate the systems governing the issuance of charge cards, monitoring practices, and other related issues, given that multiple reports on the charge card problem have not led to improvements within the DOD.
James Comer and Joni Ernst urge investigation into DOD card charges, including casino spending
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.
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Could Comer and Ernst be anymore dim bulbs than a black hole? The number of occasions of bogus charges may be high but absolute dollar amount of injury to Govt or credit card company is trivial
Federal Govt Travel cards are MANDATORY for use by employees and millions of military, reservists, & national guard, thats why numbers are so high. ) REQUIRED for Federal official business travel more than a trivial amount each year.
The debts incurred using the cards are the LEGAL obligation of the card holder/user, not the Federal Govt. When a travel claim is processed, all legitimate and acceptable charges are directly reimbursed to the credit card company (not the card holder) by the Govt. Any “suspicious” charges are denied and the card holder must make good on them and appeal the denial. Charges that are bona fide bogus are a basis for revocation of the card, suspension without pay, and firing (I know someone who was indeed fired over a few hundred bucks). After being fired, the US Govt can withhold the bogus amount from pay, including final separation payout, and credit card company can sue the card holder to force repayment. Travel cards also have all sorts of imposed limits that vary by agency, like maximum charges per day before next charge is rejected, denial of use for “training course” fees unless authorized on travel orders, charges in geographic areas distant from those authorized on travel orders.
The implication that the Federal Govt is paying, or credit card company is absorbing bogus charges at casino’s ,houses of prostitution, & for private expenses not authorized by official travel documents is 99% fake news propaganda. Almost no one can incur enough charges that are bogus that they cannot be repaid by deduction from pay while they are suspended or when being fired.
Even some charges at “casinos” can be legitimate. I once took a course at a convention center in Atlantic City and had dinner at a casino’s all-you-can-eat buffet (5 min walk from Holiday Inn {that was charging within Govt rate limit} & good deal for me & taxpayers)