By Congresswoman Stephanie Bice
Over the last few years, we have seen an alarming rise in government fraud in states throughout the country. These scams have been prevalent in Medicaid, home health centers, government contracts, and even in federal agencies. In states like Minnesota and Ohio, these schemes have gone undetected, costing taxpayers millions of dollars. The average taxpayer loses between $1,000 and $3,000 to these types of shams each year. Every dollar lost to a scam is a dollar taken from hardworking taxpayers and diverted away from the people these programs were created to serve. Fraudulent activity is anything but victimless. That is why we must continue working to identify fraud, strengthen oversight, and protect taxpayer dollars. Taxpayers deserve better.
The Trump Administration set up the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud under the leadership of Vice President J.D. Vance. The Task Force is focused on combating waste and abuse within federal benefit and assistance programs. So far, the task force has identified more than two dozen instances, accounting for roughly $160 billion in fraudulent payments.
Congress is also taking a stand. Most recently, the House Oversight Committee released a report exposing the extent of the fraud in Minnesota. In this report, they detail how Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison greenlit widespread corruption in their state and refused to act to stop it. The Oversight Committee will continue to hold hearings and make fraudsters accountable.
Last year, the House passed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which includes reforms to prevent benefits from going to ineligible recipients and strengthens safeguards for taxpayer-funded programs. The Rescissions Act of 2025 also takes aim at wasteful spending by rescinding $9.4 billion identified by President Trump and DOGE. Additionally, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act extends the amount of time prosecutors have to pursue individuals who stole unemployment benefits during the pandemic.
Building on those efforts, the House recently passed the Stop Child Care Scams Act. Childcare programs are designed to help working families get ahead, and we must ensure those resources are reaching the parents and children who need them most. Strengthening accountability helps protect these programs and preserve public trust.
This week, the House is considering additional legislation aimed at preventing fraud and strengthening oversight across the federal government. The Federal Fraud Prevention Workforce Training Act would authorize the U.S. Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget, in consultation with the Office of Personnel Management, to establish a government-wide training program to help federal employees identify fraud risks, implement anti-fraud best practices, and utilize tools such as the Do Not Pay system.
My office is also working to combat illicit payments. Recently, we have been contacted by constituents who were victims of fraud involving the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). This investigation remains ongoing, and my office is monitoring the situation closely. It was only because these constituents noticed suspicious activity and reached out with concerns that we were able to begin piecing together what happened. Their experience serves as an important reminder to regularly review your accounts and encourage your family members to do the same.
Fraud is often uncovered because every day Americans speak up when something does not seem right.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, my office is available to help. There are multiple avenues for reporting these instances, and we can help guide constituents to the appropriate resources or assist in resolving issues they may be facing.
