Trump's anti-fraud task force poised to scrutinize benefits programs

"Among the tactics that a new anti-fraud task force will be pursuing is withholding government funding to state and local jurisdictions whose anti-fraud controls for benefits are deemed inadequate and increasing data-sharing between states and the federal government, according to the Monday executive order establishing the task force."

"Those agencies will have to identify what parts of their benefit programs are most susceptible to fraud and adopt anti-fraud requirements like identity verification, increased documentation and better back-end data checks within 60 days."

"Anti-fraud experts have long wanted the federal government to take a more coordinated approach against fraud in government programs. But some worry that the Trump administration is using fraud as a pretext for political goals, including immigration enforcement."

The White House launched a coordinated anti-fraud initiative targeting federally-funded benefits including housing, food, and cash assistance programs. The new task force, chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance and vice-chaired by FTC head Andrew Ferguson, will implement tactics such as withholding government funding from states with inadequate anti-fraud controls and increasing data-sharing between state and federal agencies. Government agencies must identify fraud-susceptible program areas and implement identity verification, enhanced documentation, and improved data checks within 60 days. The task force will maximize enforcement of eligibility requirements and monitor fraud risk indicators across programs. While anti-fraud experts support coordinated federal approaches, concerns exist that the administration may use fraud prevention as a pretext for other political objectives, including immigration enforcement.

Read at Nextgov.com