Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) just eliminated over 610,000 unnecessary federal credit cards in just 14 weeks, slashing 13% of all government cards in a massive effort to reduce wasteful spending and bureaucratic bloat.
Key Takeaways
- DOGE has deactivated over 610,000 unused federal credit cards, representing a 13% reduction of all government cards
- The initiative engaged 55 federal agencies and assessed 4.6 million credit card accounts in just 14 weeks
- This program began during President Trump’s administration with an executive order freezing most agency employee credit cards
- The credit card deactivation is part of a broader strategy to reduce government size, cost, and financial waste
- DOGE continues making progress despite Elon Musk’s departure from White House leadership in May
Massive Federal Credit Card Elimination Underway
President Trump’s Department of “Government Efficiency” (DOGE) continues to deliver on its mission to shrink government bloat and reduce taxpayer burden. In what officials describe as one of the largest government spending overhauls in recent years, DOGE has successfully deactivated more than 610,000 unused or unnecessary federal credit cards in just 14 weeks. This elimination represents approximately 13% of the 4.6 million government credit cards previously available to federal employees for official purchases and transactions, a significant step toward reducing wasteful spending.
Weekly Credit Card Update!
Pilot program with 16 agencies to audit unused/unneeded credit cards. After 5 weeks, ~298,000 cards have been de-activated.
As a reminder, at the start of the audit, there were ~4.6M active cards/accounts, so still more work to do. pic.twitter.com/GXPemQt5Db
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) March 24, 2025
The comprehensive initiative began earlier this year following President Trump’s executive order that froze most agency employee credit cards, with specific exemptions for critical services. The credit card audit and deactivation program has now expanded to include 55 federal agencies, demonstrating the administration’s commitment to systematically examining and eliminating wasteful government expenditures. This approach aligns perfectly with conservative principles of fiscal responsibility and smaller government that Trump promised to deliver in his second term.
Understanding the Impact on Government Operations
While the elimination of over 600,000 credit cards represents significant progress in trimming government excess, DOGE has been strategic in its approach to ensure essential government functions remain unimpeded. The initiative carefully distinguishes between necessary operational cards and those that are unused or redundant. Experts familiar with federal procurement systems have emphasized that these government cards serve specific functional purposes rather than being comparable to consumer credit cards used for personal expenses.
“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.
During the assessment process, DOGE established clear criteria for which cards would remain active. While many cards were eliminated, exceptions were made for categorical and individual cases where credit cards were essential for fulfilling critical government functions. This balanced approach ensures that legitimate operational needs are met while eliminating wasteful redundancies that burden American taxpayers. The program is proving that the government can become more efficient without sacrificing necessary services.
Broader Efficiency Initiatives Beyond Credit Cards
The credit card deactivation program represents just one component of DOGE’s comprehensive strategy to reduce government waste and inefficiency. Earlier progress reports had indicated the elimination of 523,000 inactive cards, showing that the momentum has continued and even accelerated in recent weeks. Beyond credit cards, DOGE has collaborated with the General Services Administration and other federal bodies to discontinue inactive phone plans and identify other areas of unnecessary spending that can be eliminated without negative impacts on essential services.
“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 DOGE.
This financial accountability initiative continues despite the departure of DOGE’s former leader, Elon Musk, who left the White House in May. The continued progress demonstrates that the structural reforms implemented by the Trump administration have created lasting institutional changes that extend beyond individual leadership. The systematic approach to eliminating waste has become embedded in the operational procedures of the federal government, promising continued savings for American taxpayers in the months and years ahead.
