Vance kicks off anti-fraud task force aimed at stopping ‘theft’ of taxpayer money

Vance highlighted the massive fraud scandal in Minnesota during his remarks opening the meeting, saying that it “illustrates well” what has been happening across “whole layers of our government.”

“This is not just theft of the American people’s money,” Vance said. “This is also theft of critical services that the American people rely on.”

The Justice Department alleged in December that, since 2018, millions of federal dollars spent on 14 Minnesota-run programs may have been stolen through scams. The Minnesota social services programs affected include child nutrition, housing services, and support for families to help children with autism. 

Homeland Security Adviser Stephen Miller stated during the roundtable that the administration has been unable to get the names of people enrolled in Minnesota’s SNAP program, which the administration has demanded Minnesota’s leadership turn over for review. 

The vice president said the fraud scandal resulted in two tragedies: taxpayer money intended for