WASHINGTON, D.C. January 11, 2026 – President Donald J. Trump has established a new division within the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) focused on national fraud enforcement, targeting what the administration describes as a “rampant and pervasive” fraud crisis affecting federal programs, businesses, nonprofits, and private citizens.
The announcement, detailed in a White House fact sheet dated January 8, 2026, and highlighted in recent social media posts from the official @WhiteHouse account, creates a dedicated DOJ unit to investigate, prosecute, and remedy fraud schemes across the country.
Key Details of the New Division
– The division will enforce federal criminal and civil laws against fraud impacting government programs and federally funded benefits.
– It will be headed by a new **Assistant Attorney General**, who will:
– Lead multi-district and multi-agency investigations.
– Coordinate with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices on fraud cases.
– Collaborate with federal agencies to disrupt organized fraud networks.
– Set national enforcement priorities and propose legislative or regulatory reforms to address systemic vulnerabilities.
– Advise top DOJ officials on high-impact fraud matters.
The initiative underscores the administration’s emphasis on law and order, with the White House sharing promotional imagery of President Trump alongside the announcement.
Focus on Ongoing Investigations, Particularly in Minnesota
The fact sheet highlights extensive federal actions already underway, with a strong emphasis on what it calls Minnesota’s “fraud epidemic”:
– DOJ has charged 98 defendants in fraud-related cases in Minnesota, 85 of whom are of Somali descent; 64 have been convicted.
– Investigators have issued over 1,750 subpoenas, executed more than 130 search warrants, and conducted over 1,000 witness interviews.
– Multiple programs are under scrutiny, including Feeding Our Future, Housing Stabilization Services, Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention, and Evergreen Recovery Medicaid fraud.
– The FBI is probing dozens of health care and home care providers, including potential ties to elected officials and terrorist financing.
– The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has deployed around 2,000 agents for door-to-door investigations and arrested over 1,000 criminal illegal aliens in recent weeks.
– Other measures include freezing childcare payments nationwide, pausing Medicaid disbursements in flagged Minnesota programs, halting Small Business Administration grants, and reviewing unemployment insurance and SNAP eligibility.
Additional agencies involved include the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Labor, and Department of Agriculture.
The White House states these actions aim to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure accountability in federal and state-administered programs.
The announcement has generated significant online discussion, with the @WhiteHouse post garnering thousands of engagements as supporters praise the move toward stronger fraud enforcement.
This development comes as part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to prioritize criminal justice reforms and fiscal oversight in its second term. Further details on the new division’s leadership and implementation are expected in the coming weeks.
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