States Have New Weapon to Combat Fraud in Safety Net Programs

WASHINGTON, D.C.— The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) is combatting waste, fraud, and abuse across public assistance programs through a new public toolkit geared toward state legislators.

In recent months, fraud and improper payments in safety net programs like Medicaid have made headlines across multiple states, exposing enormous weaknesses in eligibility systems and oversight. In Minnesota, for example, decentralized local administration and billing childcare providers based on enrollment rather than attendance allowed large‑scale fraud in federally funded programs to flourish, while multi‑state Medicaid fraud rings have exploited gaps in data sharing to recycle high‑risk providers and bill for phantom services. These are resources that should be going to vulnerable Americans in need, not fraudsters and not criminals.

The report, “Protecting the American Dream: Restoring Accountability and Combating Fraud in Safety Net Programs,” outlines practical, state-level solutions to strengthen program integrity, improve eligibility verification, and enhance data sharing across agencies. Released just after President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance’s new White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, this toolkit gives state legislators concrete steps they can take to ensure that resources reach vulnerable Americans working to move up the economic ladder. This is a powerful, useful guide for legislators who are serious about safeguarding their constituents’ tax dollars and restoring trust in public assistance programs.

AFPI has long championed reforms to safety net programs administered at both the federal and state level. By increasing transparency and restoring accountability, states can better safeguard taxpayer dollars while ensuring that assistance reaches those who truly need it.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY

Chair of Healthy America, Governor Bobby Jindal, is available to comment on the report and its policy recommendations.

Please click here to request an interview.