Vice President J.D. Vance raised concerns about what he described as widespread fraud in federal benefit programs, pointing to cases involving individuals exploiting taxpayer-funded systems and emphasizing the impact on both taxpayers and families in need.

In remarks addressing the issue, Vance said the scale of the problem has reached significant levels.

"What we've seen is Somali fraudsters at an industrial scale taking advantage of that program to the tune of millions and millions of dollars,” Vance said.

He described the consequences of such activity as affecting multiple groups across the country.

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“There are two separate tragedies there,” Vance said.

He first pointed to the effect on taxpayers.

“The first tragedy is that you have people who pay into the federal government, who pay into the IRS, who pay their taxes, expecting that those taxes will go to help their fellow citizens, and it's not going there,” he said.

“It's going to help fraudsters.”

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Vance said the issue also has a direct impact on individuals and families who rely on federal assistance.

“The more important tragedy is that you have families who need these services who are unable to get them because people are getting rich off of fraud schemes,” he said.

He added that the misuse of funds prevents resources from reaching intended recipients.

“Instead of making sure that autistic children and their families get access to these resources,” Vance said.

While referencing a specific example in Minnesota, Vance indicated that the issue extends beyond a single location.

“That story, while it's very concrete and very obvious what we're seeing in Minneapolis, it is replayed again and again and again across many states and across many different programs,” he said.

Vance emphasized that addressing the issue is a priority for the administration.

“It has to stop,” he said.

He also pointed to directives from President Donald Trump. “The President United States has ordered us to stop it,” Vance said.

According to Vance, a federal task force has been established to focus on identifying and addressing fraudulent activity within government programs.

“That's what this task force is going to do,” he said.

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The remarks come amid broader discussions within the administration about oversight, enforcement, and the allocation of federal resources.

Officials have indicated that increased coordination between agencies and targeted investigations will be central to efforts aimed at reducing fraud and ensuring that funds reach eligible recipients.

Vance’s comments highlighted concerns about both financial accountability and access to services, particularly for vulnerable populations.

The administration has stated that efforts to combat fraud will continue as part of a broader initiative to strengthen oversight of federal programs and improve outcomes for taxpayers and beneficiaries.

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