Lawmakers Examine Federal Spending On Playing, Grownup Leisure And Extra

The U.S. Home Oversight Committee is investigating the federal authorities’s use of bank card and cost accounts after a assessment from the newly based Division of Authorities Effectivity discovered that federal bureaucrats have not less than 4.6 million cost accounts, spending $40 billion within the final fiscal yr.

The lawmakers are urgent for solutions about bank card spending on “grownup leisure” in addition to playing, on-line courting websites, babysitting, massages and extra.

DOGE mentioned earlier this month that it had deactivated over 500,000 unused or pointless cost accounts for federal staff.

Now, lawmakers are calling for an audit from a prime federal watchdog.

“With tens of billions in taxpayer funds at stake annually, a complete evaluation is urgently wanted to establish systemic dangers, eradicate inefficiencies, and restore accountability to federal cost card packages,” Home Oversight Republicans mentioned in a letter to the Authorities Accountability Workplace.

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In some circumstances, the accounts go unused and are pointless. In different circumstances, the spending is questionable.

“This lack of oversight is additional underscored by a current DoD Workplace of Inspector Normal (DoD OIG) report, which discovered 7,805 transactions at ‘recognized high-risk retailers,’ together with on line casino ATMs and cell software shops,” the letter mentioned. “The report additionally discovered 3,246 purchases made at ‘Bars Lounges, Discos, Nightclubs, and Taverns Alcoholic Drinks retailers’ throughout holidays or main sporting occasions. We’re skeptical these fees have been for professional functions or in service of the DoD’s mission for which the playing cards have been issued.”

The letter goes on to name for a “complete assessment” from GAO, the newest Republican effort to extend effectivity and accountability within the federal authorities.

“To raised perceive the scope of this situation and to tell potential reforms, we request the GAO conduct a complete assessment of the issuance and administration of presidency buy, journey, fleet, and built-in cost playing cards and accounts throughout federal businesses topic to the Chief Monetary Officers (CFO) Act of 1990,” the letter mentioned.

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The Senate has proven curiosity as properly, with Sen. Joni Ernst saying “it’s time to chop up authorities bank cards.”

“At $36 trillion in debt, bureaucrats can’t be allowed to swipe away and stick taxpayers with the invoice,” Ernst mentioned.

Syndicated with permission from The Middle Sq..