ESTABLISHING THE TASK FORCE TO ELIMINATE FRAUD

This Executive Order, signed by President Donald J. Trump on March 17, 2026, establishes the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. The order mandates a "whole-of-government" crackdown on systemic fraud, waste, and abuse within federal benefit programs, including housing, food assistance (SNAP), medical care (Medicaid), and childcare.The administration characterizes the current system as a "shadow economy" where lax state-level oversight and "self-certification" loopholes have allowed illegal aliens, foreign gangs, and corrupt officials to siphon off billions of taxpayer dollars.Chair: The Vice President of the United States.Vice Chair: The Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), who manages operations in the Chair’s absence.Senior Advisor: The Assistant to the President for Homeland Security.Membership: Includes the heads of nearly every major federal department (Treasury, DOJ, Agriculture, HHS, HUD, etc.), emphasizing the interagency nature of the mission.The Task Force is directed to coordinate a comprehensive national strategy to:Verify Eligibility: Maximize enforcement of identity and residency requirements, moving away from "self-attestation."Pre-payment Controls: Implement "integrity checks" before funds are disbursed. This includes the authority to proactively pause federal funding to states or programs when widespread fraud is suspected.Dismantle Networks: Target and disrupt organized criminal rings, including those involving transnational crime or corrupt government officials.Data Sharing: Eliminate "information silos" by forcing states and local jurisdictions to share enrollee data with federal law enforcement.The order explicitly cites Minnesota as a primary example of "staggering fraud," specifically:The $250 million "Feeding Our Future" scam involving fake meal sites.Billions in suspected Medicaid fraud.An organized ring of Somali immigrants allegedly stealing hundreds of millions in childcare funds to purchase luxury items and potentially fund overseas terror groups.The order also identifies California, Illinois, New York, Maine, and Colorado as high-risk states with similar vulnerabilities.Minimum Anti-Fraud Requirements: Within 60 days, the Task Force will set mandatory standards for screening and identity verification.Withholding Funds: The Task Force will recommend withholding federal funds from states and jurisdictions that refuse to implement these "minimum anti-fraud requirements."Civil Actions: The Attorney General is directed to promote and accelerate private whistleblower lawsuits (under the False Claims Act) to recover stolen taxpayer dollars.The administration frames the fraud crisis as a deliberate result of the previous administration's "weakened oversight" and "institutional tolerance." President Trump asserts that some state politicians use welfare programs to solidify political power by providing sanctuary to migrant populations who then rely on public assistance.The order concludes by reaffirming the President’s "first duty" to protect American citizens and ensure that safety-net programs are reserved exclusively for lawfully eligible beneficiaries.1. Leadership and Structure2. Core Objectives and Priorities3. Specific Targets and Evidence4. Enforcement and Accountability5. Political Context