President Trump’s DOGE just eliminated over 610,000 government credit cards in just 14 weeks, slashing federal spending capabilities by 13% as part of his administration’s aggressive war on government waste.
Key Takeaways
- The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has cancelled over 610,000 federal credit cards, representing a 13% reduction of all government credit cards.
- This initiative spans 55 federal agencies and has analyzed 4.6 million accounts to identify unused or unnecessary credit cards.
- The credit card reduction program began with an executive order in February that froze most agency employee credit cards, with exceptions for critical services.
- DOGE continues its government efficiency mission even after Elon Musk’s departure from the White House in May.
- This initiative represents one of the largest government spending overhauls in recent years.
Massive Credit Card Purge Targets Government Waste
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced it has successfully cancelled more than 610,000 unused or unnecessary federal credit cards in just 14 weeks. This dramatic reduction represents approximately 13% of the 4.6 million government credit cards previously in circulation across federal agencies. The initiative is part of President Trump’s broader mandate to reduce government bloat, cut wasteful spending, and restore fiscal responsibility to Washington. The credit card audit program has expanded to include 55 federal agencies, making it one of the most comprehensive spending reforms implemented in recent administrations.
The initiative began with a February executive order that froze most agency employee credit cards, while providing exemptions for critical services. After identifying which cards were truly necessary for government operations, DOGE proceeded with the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of cards deemed unnecessary or unused. This represents a direct attack on the bureaucratic spending apparatus that has contributed to America’s ballooning national debt. By reducing access to government credit, the administration is creating structural barriers to the unchecked spending that has characterized previous administrations.
Government Officials Defend Credit Card Systems
Despite the massive cuts, some government officials have emphasized the importance of these credit cards for daily operations. Michael Ryan defended the system by explaining the practical applications of government credit cards before the cuts began. “These aren’t your typical consumer credit cards. We’re looking at lifelines for federal agencies—cards that keep the lights on, quite literally. Need to book a last-minute flight for a critical meeting? There’s a card for that. Emergency maintenance part for a military vehicle? Yep, another card. Office supplies for a research lab working on something that could change the world? You guessed it—another card,” said Michael Ryan.
Jessica Childress, another defender of the government credit card system, highlighted their operational importance. “These cards are the ways that many government workers are performing the duties they’ve taken an oath to perform. It facilitates the ability of these employees to do their jobs,” said Jessica Childress.
Despite these defenses, the Trump administration determined that hundreds of thousands of these cards were simply unnecessary, representing potential avenues for wasteful spending rather than essential tools for government function.
DOGE’s Ongoing Mission
The credit card reduction initiative is just one component of DOGE’s comprehensive effort to streamline government operations and reduce federal spending. The department continues its efficiency mission even after the departure of its initial leader, Elon Musk, who left his White House role in May. DOGE announced its progress through a social media post on X on June 6, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to transparency in its government reform efforts. The Department made it clear that this is just the beginning of a much larger overhaul of federal spending practices.
“The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) indicated that it is still working to make changes in federal agencies, including cutting government credit card accounts,” according to the DOGE..
The 610,000 credit card cancellation milestone represents a significant achievement in the Trump administration’s battle against government waste and bureaucratic inefficiency. By targeting the financial instruments that enable spending, DOGE has implemented a structural reform that makes it physically more difficult for government agencies to engage in unnecessary expenditures. This approach aligns perfectly with President Trump’s campaign promises to drain the swamp and restore fiscal discipline to the federal government, addressing conservative voters’ longstanding concerns about government overreach and reckless spending of taxpayer dollars.
