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Senate minority staff estimated $1.68 million from three purchase-card freezes

Reporting and findings

  1. estimate

    PSI minority staff estimated $1,683,439.91 in disruption and administrative cost from DOGE purchase-card restrictions at NASA, the FAA, and the Administration for Children and Families.

  2. documented

    Elon Musk was the Trump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE work.

  3. documented

    Russell Vought was the Trump-appointed OMB director and acting CFPB director.

Summary and current status

Low-dollar controls stopped routine NASA, FAA, and child-services purchases while creating staff workarounds.

$1.68 million minority-staff estimate through July 2025

People and organizations

Relationships in this file

  1. Elon Muskfroze routine purchases and created administrative costNational Aeronautics and Space Administration
  2. Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed senior adviser who led DOGE workElon Musk
  3. Donald J. TrumpTrump-appointed OMB director and acting CFPB directorRussell Vought

Money trail

  1. public cost$1.68 million from three purchase-card freezes$1.68 million
    Estimated public spending source
    Federal agencies
    Estimated funds recipient
    Administrative and personnel costs
    Loss or cost borne by
    Agency missions, staff, vendors, and taxpayers
    estimated · 2025-07-31 · observedRead source record
    Calculation detailsPopulation NASA, FAA, and Administration for Children and Families card disruptionsPeriod 2025-01-20 to 2025-07-31Basis Staff applied labor and disruption estimates to three documented card-control examples.Limits Case-study estimate does not cover all agencies or isolate each agency's share. Non-additive with the report's aggregate estimate.