Payam Javan: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), recently established to oversee federal spending, has uncovered $312 million in loans granted to children during the pandemic, according to a report released on March 9, 2025. The findings stem from an audit of pandemic-era relief programs, revealing that minors, some as young as infants, were listed as recipients of funds intended for small businesses and economic recovery, raising serious questions about oversight and fraud prevention.

DOGE officials stated that the loans, part of a broader $2 trillion relief effort, were likely exploited due to lax verification processes at the time. The agency is now working to identify the scope of the misuse and recover the funds, though experts suggest that much of the money may be untraceable. This discovery has sparked calls for stricter accountability measures in future federal programs, with DOGE pledging to continue its investigation into other potential irregularities.