Lawmakers Examine Federal Spending On Playing, Grownup Entertainment And Extra

The U.S. Home Oversight Committee is investigating the federal authorities’s use of bank card and cost accounts after a evaluate from the newly based Division of Authorities Effectivity discovered that federal bureaucrats have at the very least 4.6 million cost accounts, spending $40 billion within the final fiscal yr.

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

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

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

“With tens of billions in taxpayer funds at stake each year, a comprehensive assessment is urgently needed to identify systemic risks, eliminate inefficiencies, and restore accountability to federal charge card programs,” 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 further underscored by a recent DoD Office of Inspector General (DoD OIG) report, which found 7,805 transactions at ‘known high-risk merchants,’ including casino ATMs and mobile application stores,” the letter mentioned. “The report also found 3,246 purchases made at ‘Bars Lounges, Discos, Nightclubs, and Taverns Alcoholic Drinks merchants’ during holidays or major sporting events. We are skeptical these charges were for legitimate purposes or in service of the DoD’s mission for which the cards were issued.”

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

“To better understand the scope of this issue and to inform potential reforms, we request the GAO conduct a comprehensive review of the issuance and management of government purchase, travel, fleet, and integrated charge cards and accounts across federal agencies subject to the Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Act of 1990,” the letter mentioned.

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The Senate has proven curiosity as effectively, with Sen. Joni Ernst saying “it’s time to cut up government credit cards.”

“At $36 trillion in debt, bureaucrats cannot be allowed to swipe away and stick taxpayers with the bill,” Ernst mentioned.

Syndicated with permission from The Heart Sq..