{"id":27695,"date":"2024-04-23T17:58:23","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T17:58:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/04\/23\/grassley-grills-pentagon-over-improper-use-of-government-credit-cards\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:17:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:17:27","slug":"grassley-grills-pentagon-over-improper-use-of-government-credit-cards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/home\/2024\/04\/23\/grassley-grills-pentagon-over-improper-use-of-government-credit-cards\/","title":{"rendered":"Grassley grills Pentagon over improper use of government credit cards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

U.S. Department of Defense employees may have spent millions of dollars using government credit cards on goods and services that were improperly marked as COVID-19 response measures, and one lawmaker is calling Pentagon officials out on their apparent lack of oversight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a watchdog report found that falsely reported COVID-19 expenses is an \u201cextensive and diverse\u201d problem at DOD, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, sent a letter to Secretary Lloyd Austin<\/a> on April 22, calling the situation a \u201ca slap in the face to the taxpayer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inspector general for the Pentagon published a report in January<\/a> that found of the $242 million spent on COVID-19 response at the height of the pandemic, an estimated $53 million worth of credit card purchases did not align with that purpose, and half of purchases also lacked documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among some of the purchases flagged by Grassley include cybersecurity training courses for $23,000, Nordic skiing machines and floor stands for $4,000, vehicle repairs and gasoline, dry erase markers, a picture frame and a kitchen knob.<\/p>\n\n\n\t