WASHINGTON, D.C. — Republican Attorneys General from across the United States met with Vice President JD Vance and members of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud during a roundtable discussion focused on tackling fraud and strengthening oversight of public assistance programmes.
The meeting brought together senior state law enforcement officials and federal representatives to discuss strategies aimed at reducing fraudulent activity affecting taxpayer-funded services and ensuring benefits are directed toward eligible recipients.
Among those participating were Attorney General Brenna Bird of Iowa, Attorney General Derek Brown of Utah, Attorney General Russell Coleman of Kentucky, Attorney General Gentner Drummond of Oklahoma, Attorney General Lynn Fitch of Mississippi, Attorney General Tim Griffin of Arkansas, Attorney General Mike Hilgers of Nebraska, Attorney General Marty Jackley of South Dakota, Attorney General Kris Kobach of Kansas, Attorney General Austin Knudsen of Montana, Attorney General Raúl Labrador of Idaho, Attorney General Todd Rokita of Indiana, soon-to-be Acting Attorney General Andy Wilson of Ohio, and Attorney General Drew Wrigley of North Dakota.
The roundtable centred on concerns over financial losses linked to fraud involving public benefits and government support systems. Participants discussed expanding co-operation between state and federal agencies, as well as improving investigative and enforcement capabilities.
Andrew Ferguson, former Virginia Solicitor General and current Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission as well as Vice Chairman of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, stressed the importance of deterrence in combating organised fraud.
“We must restore deterrence by finding, prosecuting, and punishing fraudsters. Unless fraudsters believe that there will be consequences attached with attacking America’s benefits programs, they will keep doing it,” said Former Virginia Solicitor General and current Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman and Vice Chairman of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud Andrew Ferguson. “The only way to defeat the fraudsters is by making sure that they know, every single one of them, that if they try to commit fraud, they will be pursued, arrested, prosecuted, and jailed.”
Federal officials attending the meeting also highlighted the importance of collaboration between national and state authorities in addressing fraud-related offences.
“Our state partnerships are critical to solving the fraud crisis in our country,” said Assistant Attorney General for the National Fraud Enforcement Division Colin McDonald. “It is our mission to combat fraud no matter how big, no matter how small, no matter how hard.”
The discussion reflects growing political and regulatory attention in the United States on the financial impact of fraud involving healthcare programmes, welfare systems, and other taxpayer-funded services. Authorities have increasingly sought to strengthen investigative frameworks and recover public funds lost through fraudulent schemes.
Austin Knudsen, Montana Attorney General and Chairman of the Republican Attorneys General Association (RAGA), said the initiative aimed to reinforce public confidence in government support programmes.
“We appreciate the leadership of Vice President Vance bringing together Attorneys General from across the country Today to mobilize and combat fraud,” said RAGA Chairman and Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen. “Montanans and Americans expect these benefits to go to those in need of assistance, not to fraudsters or foreign nationals abusing the system.”
The meeting also underscored the role of specialised state-level enforcement divisions, including Medicaid Fraud Control Units and Public Integrity Units, which are tasked with investigating misuse of public resources and corruption-related offences.
“Republican Attorneys General have the authority and specialized tools to aggressively root out criminals who defraud taxpayers through their dedicated Medicaid Fraud Control Units and Public Integrity Units,” said RAGA General Counsel Whitney Lipscomb. “By combining these state-level resources with the specialized support from the Administration, we will ensure these bad actors are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and that millions of dollars rightfully belonging to the American people are recovered.”
The White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud has been positioned as part of a broader effort to improve accountability and oversight within federal and state benefits systems. Officials participating in the roundtable indicated that co-ordination between agencies will remain a priority as authorities continue investigations into fraud-related activity affecting public programmes.
While the meeting carried a strong law-enforcement focus, participants also framed the issue as one of public trust and financial stewardship, arguing that stronger enforcement measures are necessary to protect taxpayer resources and maintain confidence in government-administered assistance programmes.
