Republicans on Capitol Hill and beyond have shifted their focus toward cutting fraud in government programs, an effort they hope will resonate with voters in November.Lawmakers have rolled out several bills related to stopping fraud in government programs. The raft of legislation adds to efforts by the Trump administration to crack down on fraud and recent news stories highlighting examples of abuse of major government programs like Medicare and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.With voters upset at the government and dissatisfied with the cost of living, Republicans are betting anti-fraud efforts will resonate in the lead-up to the midterm elections.
“I think the whole government corruption, incompetence, and waste thing is really breaking through,” Jason Roe, a veteran Republican political consultant, told the Washington Examiner.
The House was weighing several pieces of fraud-related legislation this week.
For instance, the Fraud Prevention and Accountability Act would enhance how the federal government prevents fraud during national emergencies, particularly after COVID-19 pandemic programs were used by some fraudsters to turn a profit.
That legislation would also establish an Office of the Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery, which would be housed within the Treasury Department.
