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President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday establishing a new federal task force aimed at combating fraud in government benefit programs, with Vice President JD Vance set to lead the initiative.<\/span><\/p>\n The new body, formally titled the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, will coordinate a government-wide effort to investigate and prevent fraud affecting programs administered jointly by federal, state, and local governments, including housing, food assistance, and health care benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n According to administration officials, the task force will develop a national strategy to identify vulnerabilities in government benefit systems and implement stronger safeguards such as identity verification requirements, documentation standards, and audits designed to prevent abuse.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis is a very big thing that we\u2019re doing\u2026 having to do with all of the fraud that\u2019s taking place in our country.\u201d@POTUS<\/a> prepares to sign an Executive Order establishing a @VP<\/a>-led task force to root out fraud, as outlined in his State of the Union address. pic.twitter.com\/5tSg93E1Io<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Andrew Ferguson, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, will serve as vice chair of the task force, while White House adviser Stephen Miller will act as senior adviser. Cabinet-level officials will participate as needed depending on the programs under review.<\/span><\/p>\n The effort is part of a broader \u201cwar on fraud\u201d designed to root out large-scale scams that divert taxpayer money away from programs intended to assist vulnerable Americans. \u201cIn states across the country, fraudsters are depriving vulnerable citizens of basic social services, stealing billions of your tax dollars, and eroding America\u2019s social fabric,\u201d a spokesperson for Vance told the <\/span>New York Post<\/span><\/a>. \u201cThis fraud has happened on such a massive scale that it\u2019s endangering the future viability of America\u2019s entire social safety net.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The order comes amid heightened scrutiny of fraud in government-funded programs, including a major scandal in Minnesota involving fraudulent claims tied to nutrition and autism care services that has resulted in dozens of criminal indictments. Officials say the administration believes similar vulnerabilities may exist in states including California, Illinois, New York, Maine, and Colorado.<\/span><\/p>\n The task force is also being launched as the administration moves to strengthen federal enforcement efforts. Trump recently nominated Colin Macdonald to serve as the Justice Department\u2019s first assistant attorney general focused specifically on fraud enforcement.<\/span><\/p>\n Earlier this year, Vance and Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, announced that $259.5 million in Medicaid reimbursements for Minnesota would be withheld amid fraud concerns, giving Gov. Tim Walz 60 days to submit a corrective action plan.<\/span><\/p>\n Vance also announced a nationwide pause on certain companies seeking Medicare subsidies for durable medical equipment such as canes and walkers, while federal officials review the program for potential abuse.<\/span><\/p>\n Outside watchdog groups praised the move as a necessary step to address waste and fraud in government programs. \u201cThe State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF) salutes President Trump for ordering the creation of this task force and stands ready to support him and the Vice President as key allies already on the battlefield,\u201d said OJ Oleka, CEO of SFOF.<\/span><\/p>\n\n