The border gets the attention while fraudulent government benefits bleed taxpayers dry

Benefits oversight collapses nationwide as alleged fraud schemes drain billions in taxpayer dollars through Medicaid and social services programs.

Mehek Cooke is an attorney, political strategist and former state and U.S. counterterrorism adviser.

They are the taxpayer dollars of hardworking Americans paid out without adequate documentation, verified eligibility, or proof that payments met program rules. Federal auditors report that over 77% of improper payments stem from documentation gaps unsubstantiated by administrators. While not every improper payment constitutes fraud, weak identity verification and minimal oversight create incentives for abuse by both providers and recipients. States lacking robust verification systems are far more likely to issue improper or fraudulent payments, a risk repeatedly flagged by federal watchdogs. This is the predictable outcome of systems that prioritize rapid enrollment over verification, expansion over accountability, and optics over enforcement.