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The White House is preparing to launch a new anti-fraud task force to combat abuse of government-funded programs in California and other states, according to sources familiar with the plan.
Sources told CBS News that JD Vance is expected to lead the initiative, which will concentrate on uncovering schemes that exploit taxpayer-backed benefits and public assistance programs.
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order in the coming days formally establishing the task force, sources said.
The move comes amid growing pressure on federal officials to strengthen oversight of government spending and stop criminals from diverting funds meant for legitimate recipients.
While specific operational details have not yet been released, sources said the task force will prioritize large-scale fraud networks and coordinated efforts to exploit federal programs. It is also expected to focus on consumer-facing scams that rely on stolen identities, false claims, and fraudulent applications, tactics that have become increasingly sophisticated as more government services move online.
Sources also said Andrew Ferguson will serve as vice chair of the task force. Ferguson oversees the Federal Trade Commission and is expected to manage both the agency and the day-to-day operations of the new task force.
The FTC’s central role in policing deceptive business practices and consumer fraud suggests the initiative will blend traditional law enforcement approaches with consumer protection strategies. That could include coordinating investigations across agencies, identifying emerging fraud patterns, and expanding enforcement actions against individuals and organizations accused of abusing public programs.
The task force is expected to draw participation from multiple federal departments and agencies, though it remains unclear which will formally take part or how success will be measured.
Placing the vice president at the helm and the FTC chair in a management role signals the administration intends to treat the effort as a major policy priority rather than a routine enforcement program.
If finalized, the executive order would represent one of the administration’s most significant steps toward centralizing a federal anti-fraud strategy under the White House, with an emphasis on protecting taxpayer dollars and cracking down on widespread abuse of public programs.