Federal Agencies Struggle as Elon Musk’s $1 Spending Limit Disrupts Operations

Federal employees across multiple agencies are struggling to perform basic job functions due to a $1 spending limit imposed on most government-issued credit cards, according to The Wired. The change, implemented last month under Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has led to widespread delays in scientific research, infrastructure maintenance, and regulatory work.

Government workers are unable to order lab supplies, travel for essential duties, or pay for critical services. Agencies affected include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Food and Drug Administration, National Park Service, Department of Agriculture, Federal Aviation Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Institutes of Health.

How the Freeze is Impacting Federal Work

• Science & Research Delays: NIH and FDA researchers can’t order lab supplies, forcing them to delay experiments and scramble for materials. Lab animals are aging out of testing windows, and some will need to be euthanized due to a lack of resources.
• Infrastructure & Maintenance Stalls: National Park Service employees can’t travel to oversee critical road repairs and maintenance projects.
• Regulatory & Safety Issues: EPA and FDA employees warn that delays in securing lab materials could impact food safety, drug testing, and environmental protections.
• Government Travel on Hold: Employees at multiple agencies have had trips canceled unless related to national security, public safety, or immigration enforcement.
• Evidence Processing Disruptions: A federal forensics lab can’t ship evidence back to agents, delaying cases and preventing trials from moving forward.

While Musk and the Trump administration claim the new policy eliminates wasteful spending, federal employees argue that it is crippling essential government functions. An NPS employee revealed that only four purchase cards with spending limits above $1 exist for an entire region, leaving many government operations at a standstill.

Federal employees and agencies are scrambling to find workarounds, bartering for supplies and pooling resources, but many worry that the longer this policy remains in place, the worse the damage will be.