WASHINGTON — President Trump is set to sign an executive order this Monday afternoon that will officially establish a task force dedicated to combating benefits fraud. This task force will be chaired by Vice President JD Vance, who has been appointed by the president to spearhead a nationwide initiative against fraud.
Vance will be present alongside Trump in the Oval Office for the signing ceremony, highlighting the president’s ongoing commitment to the initiative. This comes in the wake of a recent social-services scam scandal in Minnesota, which resulted in numerous indictments related to fraudulent nutrition and autism care programs.
The order outlines concerns that similar fraud vulnerabilities might exist in states such as California, Illinois, New York, Maine, and Colorado, where lax safeguards and oversight could potentially lead to significant fraud issues.
Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson has been named as vice chair of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, while White House aide Stephen Miller will take on the role of senior adviser. Cabinet members will be involved as required.
The executive order directs the task force to formulate a comprehensive national strategy aimed at addressing fraud in programs that provide housing, food, medical, and financial assistance, which are administered in collaboration with state and local governments.
The order also calls for the establishment of anti-fraud measures, including identity verification and documentation requirements, as well as conducting audits to prevent fraud.
âIn states across the country, fraudsters are depriving vulnerable citizens of basic social services, stealing billions of your tax dollars, and eroding Americaâs social fabric,” a Vance spokesperson told The Post.
“This fraud has happened on such a massive scale that itâs endangering the future viability of Americaâs entire social safety net.
“The Trump Administration is responding with a whole-of-government War on Fraud that includes multiple stakeholders who will follow the fraud wherever it leads.”
The task force will form on the heels of Trump nominating Colin Macdonald to serve as the Justice Department’s first assistant attorney general for fraud enforcement.
Trump announced the initiative at his annual State of the Union address to Congress this past Feb. 24.
The following day, Vance and Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, announced that $259.5 million in Medicaid funds for Minnesota would not be reimbursed due to fraud concerns â giving Democratic Gov. Tim Walz 60 days to submit a âcorrective action planâ or face further withholdings.
The VP also announced a national pause on firms that can seek subsidies through Medicare for durable medical equipment like canes and walkers.
