President Donald Trump signed an executive action on Wednesday that freezes agency employees’ credit cards for 30 days as part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s “efficiency initiative.” The official rapid response account from the White House stated that this order marks the beginning of a transformation in Federal spending on contracts, grants, and loans to ensure transparency and accountability to the American public.
All credit cards held by agency employees will be “frozen” for the next 30 days, with exceptions made for disaster relief, natural disaster response benefits, critical services, and certain law enforcement agencies. Employees must provide justifications for grants, loans, and federally funded travel for conferences or non-essential purposes. These justifications will be made public to the extent deemed practicable by the Agency Head.
The executive action also includes exemptions for law enforcement officers, US Customs and Border Protection, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and classified information or systems. The order aims to increase transparency in government spending and ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently.
President Trump signed the executive action on the same day as his first Cabinet meeting, during which the Department of Government Efficiency’s Elon Musk played a prominent role. The administration is taking steps to streamline government operations and enhance accountability in federal agencies.
