FEMA gave out $3.7 billion in 'potentially fraudulent' payments through COVID-19 aid program: IG report
Fox News
FIRST ON FOX: FEMA distributed more than $3.7 billion in improper and potentially fraudulent payments through an aid program for state workforce agencies, the Department of Homeland Security inspector general found.
Brooke Singman is a Fox News Digital politics reporter. You can reach her at Brooke.Singman@Fox.com or @BrookeSingman on Twitter.
FEMA implemented the $44 billion program in August 2020 to ease the economic burden for people who lost work due to the coronavirus pandemic. Under the program, which was active for six weeks, 53 state workforce agencies offered funds from the program to their residents.
Cuffari’s office found during an audit that 21 state workforce agencies (SWAs) had distributed more than $3.3 billion in "potentially fraudulent payments," $21.6 million in overpayments, and $403 million in payments made without obtaining claimants’ required self-certifications of eligibility for the program.