HHS Watchdog Probes Federal Benefits Fraud Amid Trump’s D.C. Crime Crackdown

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector general is investigating whether individuals caught up in President Donald Trump’s Washington crime crackdown improperly enrolled in federal programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. According to a government document and sources familiar with the matter, the inquiry extends to both those arrested and those questioned during the policing surge, raising concerns about fraud unrelated to the original law enforcement sweep.

Justice Department officials have said more than 2,000 people have been arrested under the operation, though no charges tied to benefits fraud have been announced. Critics argue that the effort diverts specialized investigators from high-value fraud cases that usually return billions to the federal treasury. In fiscal 2024, the HHS inspector general’s office identified $7.13 billion in expected recoveries, highlighting the scale of its usual operations.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson defended the move, saying the administration is committed to stopping all crimes while protecting services for law-abiding Americans. However, experts such as former Interior Department inspector general Mark Lee Greenblatt questioned the strategy, calling it unusual to redirect “high-impact agents” to cases unlikely to yield significant financial recoveries. Meanwhile, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has directed prosecutors to pursue charges in every case, though some grand juries have pushed back by rejecting felony indictments.

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