Vice President JD Vance and the White House Fraud Task Force on Wednesday called on Congress to pass legislation targeting fraud in federal welfare programs, including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The push follows the task force’s identification of $230 billion in suspected fraud and abuse across these programs since its creation in March, with $56 billion in fraudulent payments stopped to date.
Vance, Federal Trade Commissioner Andrew Ferguson, and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller convened a roundtable with lawmakers to advocate for reforms. Key proposals include mandatory data-sharing between states and the federal government to verify eligibility and stricter criminal penalties for fraud. Vance emphasized the need for legislation to ensure compliance, stating, “We need our colleagues in Congress to codify some of this stuff to make sure that it becomes law.”
The task force’s efforts focus on preventing ineligible recipients—such as undocumented immigrants or violent criminals—from accessing benefits. Vance cited California’s refusal to share SNAP records with the federal government as a barrier to oversight, noting that states like California administer federal funds without transparency. “If the state of California gives those food stamp benefits to an illegal alien, to a violent criminal, the federal government has no visibility,” Vance said.
Miller, a senior White House advisor, proposed mandatory minimum sentences for fraud convictions, arguing that such penalties would deter widespread abuse. “That change alone would be watershed for fighting fraud,” he stated, suggesting that prosecuting a small number of cases could influence broader compliance.
The proposed reforms come amid ongoing debates over welfare program integrity and state-level administration of federal benefits. Critics of the task force’s approach argue that increased federal oversight could impose administrative burdens on states or lead to unintended consequences for eligible recipients. Supporters, however, contend that stricter enforcement is necessary to protect taxpayer funds and ensure benefits reach those in need.
The White House has not yet released a formal legislative proposal, but Vance indicated that discussions with Congress are ongoing. The task force’s findings underscore long-standing concerns about fraud in entitlement programs, with federal officials framing the issue as a matter of both fiscal responsibility and public trust.