New Legislation Targets Pentagon Spending
A recently approved defense appropriations bill aims to prevent military and civilian officials at the Pentagon from using government credit cards for expenses related to adult entertainment, specifically at topless bars.
The fiscal 2026 Defense Appropriations Act explicitly states that no funds allocated under this act can be used for government travel charge card expenses associated with gaming or entertainment featuring topless or nude performers.
This legislation is part of a broader appropriation that allocates $838.7 billion towards defense initiatives, including new aircraft, submarines, and warships.
The House passed the bill on Thursday, with a final Senate vote anticipated next week. These spending bills must be finalized by January 30 to avert a government shutdown.
This provision formalizes regulations previously outlined in military guidelines regarding credit card misuse. Additionally, another section prohibits the Pentagon from using funds to create or maintain computer networks unless they are designed to block access to pornography websites.
Past investigations have revealed that numerous Pentagon officials and contractors misused government computers to access or download pornography improperly. This ban on using official travel credit cards for adult entertainment comes a decade after a report highlighted similar abuses involving government credit cards at strip clubs and casinos.
A February report indicated that U.S. government employees hold approximately 4.6 million credit cards, which were used for around 90 million transactions totaling an estimated $40 billion in 2024. Investigators are collaborating with agencies to streamline this program and reduce administrative costs.
Multiple inspector general reports have pointed out issues related to the misuse of government credit cards. A recent report found questionable transactions amounting to $500,000 at nightclubs, casinos, and major sporting events like the Super Bowl.
The inspector general has criticized defense leaders for not taking action against personnel who abused their government credit cards by seeking reimbursement for inappropriate expenses. Previous reports indicated significant amounts spent on adult entertainment establishments and casinos using these travel charge cards.
