The government’s efficiency task force, DOGE—led by billionaire and Trump supporter Elon Musk—has reportedly deactivated more than 500,000 credit cards used by federal employees across 30 agencies.
The initiative began in late March with the cancellation of 300,000 cards and expanded in April to include another 200,000.
In a statement on X, DOGE shared that nearly 470,000 cards have been disabled as part of an ongoing audit targeting inactive or unnecessary accounts. At the start of the review, there were around 4.6 million active cards.
These government-issued cards are vital for a wide range of functions, from supporting TSA bomb-sniffing dog units to purchasing lab supplies at the FDA.
According to the reports, some employees have already been hindered in performing their duties due to the card suspensions.
Financial expert Michael Ryan emphasized that these are not typical credit cards—they’re operational tools that enable agencies to carry out critical tasks, from emergency repairs to last-minute travel for key missions.
The suspension has impacted several major agencies, including the GSA, OPM, Department of Labor, SBA, Education, Treasury, Interior, EPA, USDA, NASA, and more. Even civilian staff at the Department of Defense reported drastic limitations, including a $1 spending cap on travel cards, though certain military-related travel remains exempt.
