Vice President JD Vance has just announced that the Trump administration is launching a new federal task force aimed at cracking down on widespread Somali-led fraud targeting American taxpayers.
On Thursday, Vance said the Department of Justice (DOJ) will create a new associate attorney general position dedicated specifically to fraud enforcement.
The effort is building on what Vance described as an already aggressive response by federal authorities.
According to Vance, the DOJ has issued roughly 1,500 subpoenas and brought more than 100 indictments tied to fraud investigations so far.
“We hope to announce a nominee to that position within the next few days,” Vance said.
“This is the person that is going to make sure we stop defrauding the American people.”
Vance said the administration has activated a major interagency task force to coordinate efforts across federal departments and accelerate investigations.
“We have activated a major Interagency task force to make it possible to get to the heart of this fraud,” he said.
“We also want to expand this.
“We know that the fraud isn’t just happening in Minneapolis.
“It’s also happening in states like Ohio.
“It’s happening in states like California.”
WATCH:
🚨 @VP announces the Trump Administration will create a new Assistant Attorney General position who will have nationwide jurisdiction over the issue of fraud — focusing first primarily in Minnesota, then expanding nationwide. pic.twitter.com/QnU1pti7kM
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) January 8, 2026
Minnesota has become ground zero for federal scrutiny after multiple investigations into massive welfare and nonprofit fraud schemes.
The most prominent case involved the Feeding Our Future scandal, in which prosecutors allege hundreds of millions of dollars intended to feed low-income children during the pandemic were siphoned into shell companies and luxury purchases.
More than 90 individuals have been charged, with dozens of convictions already secured, many connected to Somali-run organizations.
More recently, federal officials froze childcare payments in Minnesota after viral reporting raised questions about “daycare” centers receiving large sums of public money while appearing non-operational.
The Trump administration has demanded audits and records from state agencies, warning that federal funding could be permanently cut if misuse is confirmed.
Ohio has also drawn attention from federal investigators.
As Slay News previously reported, home healthcare and Medicaid fraud cases in the state have led to prosecutions involving millions of dollars in improper billing, including schemes in which providers allegedly pressured clinicians to approve unnecessary services for unqualified recipients.
California, meanwhile, is facing its own wave of federal scrutiny.
Trump administration officials have openly questioned how tens of billions of dollars allocated for homelessness and social services were spent, with federal prosecutors alleging that weak oversight allowed fraud to flourish.
Billions in federal funds tied to childcare, welfare, and social service programs have been paused while investigators demand documentation and recipient data from state officials.
Vance framed the new task force as part of a broader effort to restore accountability to public programs.
The vice president asserts that the Trump administration is seeking to ensure taxpayer dollars are not diverted through corruption, shell nonprofits, or fraudulent service providers to fund the lavish lifestyles of fraudsters.
Vance said additional announcements and enforcement actions are expected as the task force expands its work nationwide.
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