Each year, fraud and improper payments cost taxpayers an estimated $200 to $500 billion.
The American people deserve better, and my House Republican colleagues and I took action last by passing a series of bills aimed at strengthening oversight, improving accountability, and preventing taxpayer funds from falling into the hands of bad actors.
These included:
- H.Res. 1335 – Legislation condemning fraud against the federal government and expresses support for reforms to prevent fraud and improper payments, strengthen program integrity, and verify eligibility before taxpayer dollars are distributed.
- H.R. 8312, the Fraud Prevention and Accountability Act – Establishes new fraud prevention and financial integrity services within the Department of the Treasury, expands data-sharing capabilities to detect fraud across government programs, and creates a permanent Inspector General for Fraud, Accountability, and Recovery to coordinate oversight efforts.
- H.R. 7892, the No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026 – Requires the Department of Education to use an identity fraud detection system to review Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applications and implement additional verification procedures before federal student aid is distributed when fraud is suspected.
- H.R. 8464, the Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act – Authorizes federal agencies and the U.S. Treasury to temporarily pause, review, or segment payments that present indicators of fraud, helping prevent improper payments before taxpayer dollars are lost while safeguarding legitimate recipients.
Congressman Daniel Webster represents The Villages in the U.S. House of Representatives.