DOJ Cracks Down on Fraud: New Division, Record Recoveries, and Corporate Accountability Shift

Welcome back, listeners, to your weekly dive into the Department of Justice. This week’s blockbuster: On January 8, 2026, President Trump launched the new Division for National Fraud Enforcement, a powerhouse aimed at crushing government fraud, waste, and abuse using the False Claims Act as its main weapon, according to the White House fact sheet. DOJ’s on fire with enforcement shifts. They raked in a record $6.8 billion in False Claims Act recoveries for FY 2025, announced January 16, Baker Donelson reports, targeting sectors like DEI programs, gender-affirming care, and tariff evasion. Building on May 2025’s White Collar Enforcement Plan, Cleary Gottlieb notes revisions to the Corporate Enforcement Policy now guarantee declinations for companies that self-disclose misconduct quickly, without aggravating factors—self-disclosure is key, as Criminal Division head Matthew Galeotti put it. FCPA enforcement resumed in June 2025, zeroing in on national security threats like cartels and corrupt officials. Plus, they’ve published over 3.5 million pages on Epstein files for transparency, per justice.gov. For American citizens, this means tougher crackdowns on fraud hitting taxpayers, potentially lowering costs but raising compliance burdens. Businesses face higher stakes—over 200 individuals charged last year—but self-reporting can dodge prosecutions. States like Virginia are in the DOJ’s crosshairs for policies favoring undocumented immigrants, sued December 29, 2025, by SAAPRI. Experts say individual accountability is priority one, with national security prosecutions ramping up against cartels. Watch the February 11 House Judiciary oversight hearing. Citizens, report fraud via justice.gov tips. For more, hit up justice.gov/news. Tune in next week for updates, and subscribe now. Thanks for listening. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai. For more http://www.quietplease.ai Get the best deals https://amzn.to/3ODvOta This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.