The Pentagon's inspector general admitted this week that Pentagon personnel continue to use government credit cards at casinos, strip clubs, and for travel.
One year ago, the IG office discovered that military personnel were paying to go to places like Larry Flynt's Hustler Club using taxpayer funds. Now CNN reports that safeguards have yet to be put in place to prevent unauthorized expenses.
From July 2013 to June 2014, Pentagon staff charged $952,258 at casinos, and $96,576 at strip clubs including Sapphire Gentleman's Club, according to CNN. In 2015, the IG recommended precautions against government credit card abuse.
Now they report that the Pentagon has not followed through with their proposed measures, and that the travel card program is still "vulnerable to continued misuse."
According to the IG, the Department of Defense "experienced potential national security vulnerabilities" due to their inadequate response to cardholders who could be security risks, "including extensive travel card misuse, questionable judgment, the decision not to follow rules and guidance, financial concerns, or gambling addictions."
The IG recommended steps including the use of red flags if a Pentagon staffer used a government card when not traveling, or if they spent more than their per diem, or had several declined authorizations.
"The law requires periodic audits by inspectors general, like this one, specifically to keep on top of charge card abuse and hold agencies accountable for implementing the required internal controls," Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who proposed the Government Charge Card Abuse Prevention Act in 2012, said in a statement from Politico in May, 2015.
"That's especially true with purchase cards, where taxpayer money is directly involved even more than with travel cards," Grassley continued, "but the reforms should prevent travel card abuse, too. If everything is implemented as intended, we'll stop a lot of purchase card and travel card abuse."
The Pentagon did not respond to CNN for comment.