Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has ordered the cancellation of more than 470,000 credit cards used by federal employees in an effort to reduce unnecessary government spending.
The canceled accounts include those that have been inactive for months, are linked to individuals or institutions no longer affiliated with official programs, or have shown suspicious financial activity.
This measure marks the first step in a broader initiative to streamline the more than 4.6 million active accounts, which processed nearly $40 billion in transactions in 2024.
Elon Musk shows off a shirt that says “DOGE”
Massive Audit and Fraud Control Initiative
The large-scale cancellation follows a federal audit involving over 30 agencies.
According to DOGE, numerous irregularities were uncovered, including the use of cards by deceased individuals or people of extremely advanced age.
As a result, identity verification protocols have been strengthened.
New requirements now include verifying the birthdates of federal loan applicants to prevent minors or individuals over the age of 120 from fraudulently accessing public funds.
Musk Pushes for Deep Structural Reforms in Government
Beyond the credit card purge, Musk has championed significant structural changes within the federal government, including the shutdown of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)—a move that has sparked controversy due to its impact on humanitarian aid programs.
Additionally, bureaucratic regulations deemed redundant have been eliminated, and oversight of federal loan programs has been intensified.
According to Musk, this is just the beginning of a comprehensive transformation aimed at cutting costs and ensuring more responsible use of taxpayer money.
