DOGE revokes credit cards for those who don't meet these criteria: Will you be affected?

In a sweeping effort to tighten oversight and eliminate inefficiencies, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the leadership of Elon Musk, has deactivated 470,000 federal credit cards. Will it hurt you?

The initiative is part of a broader cost-cutting campaign that follows a comprehensive audit involving more than 30 federal agencies, by terminating s identified as inactive, duplicative, or associated with individuals and organizations no longer participating in government programs.

Some were flagged for unusual or potentially fraudulent activity, including transactions linked to deceased persons or individuals of implausible ages as DOGE officials cited these findings as justification for introducing stricter identity verification standards.

These include mandatory birthdate checks to prevent underage or fabricated applicants from accessing federal credit or loan programs and is part of a larger reform targeting the approximately 4.6 million active federal government credit card s.

Who is affected by DOGE's credit card cancellations?

According to DOGE's internal findings, the affected credit cards fall into three key categories, s that have shown no recent activity; cards held by individuals or institutions no longer involved in authorized programs; and s flagged for irregular or duplicate usage during the audit process.

Among the most serious irregularities were cases where credit cards remained active for deceased federal workers or individuals aged over 120-cases that raised serious questions about identity theft and the reliability of federal oversight mechanisms.

The new measures aim to close loopholes that have enabled misuse of public resources through istrative negligence or outdated data systems.

In addition to the cancellation of credit cards, DOGE has initiated a series of institutional changes such as the closure of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The decision has drawn criticism from humanitarian and foreign policy circles, notably arguing it impacts the USA's soft power projection compared to China. But DOGE has defended it as necessary under revised efficiency standards.

Despite concerns about the suddenness of these changes and their possible impact on government operations, the Department insists that the restructuring is critical to reducing waste and improving ability.

This credit card cancellations move in particular is the initial phase of a larger reform targeting the approximately 4.6 million active federal government credit card s, which handled nearly $40 billion in transactions during fiscal year 2024.

Is DOGE legal?

Critics argue that DOGE's operations may violate constitutional provisions such as the Appointments Clause, which requires certain federal officials to be confirmed by the Senate; particularly when it comes to Musk who is not an official head.

Additionally, watchdog organizations have raised concerns about DOGE's compliance with federal transparency and record-keeping laws.

However, was established through a presidential executive order and operates under the authority of the Executive Office of President Donald Trump. Thus it is a legal entity, despite operating in grey areas.