Officials from the Trump administration have pledged to take action to recover tax dollars misappropriated by Democratic-led states after a significant fraud discovery. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under the leadership of Elon Musk, uncovered nearly $400 million in fraudulent unemployment claims. The Department of Labor (DOL) and the White House have strongly warned the three states involved, emphasizing their commitment to reclaiming these stolen funds.
DOGE, established through one of President Trump’s executive orders, is tasked with tackling fraud, waste, and corruption in federal operations. In just a few months, the agency has uncovered substantial fraud and saved taxpayers billions.
In a cabinet meeting on April 14, 2025, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer revealed the shocking findings, stating, “DOGE has once again uncovered nearly $400 million in fraudulent unemployment payments. We are committed to recovering these funds and bringing those responsible to justice.”
Chavez-DeRemer further explained that these fraudulent claims spanned back to 2020, with a staggering amount of money being disbursed, including payments to individuals who should not have been eligible. She highlighted one case where people—supposedly born more than a century from now—had been allocated funds, with one individual even set to receive $41,000 before their birth.
White House spokesperson Harrison Fields also weighed in, criticizing the states involved for their mismanagement and poor handling of taxpayer money, which, he argued, has contributed to the migration of residents to states with more fiscally responsible governance.
The shocking details of the fraud were initially shared by DOGE on X (formerly Twitter), showing how even individuals who were either over 115 years old or not yet born were fraudulently claiming benefits. Musk responded to the findings, expressing his disbelief, “Your tax dollars were used to cover fraudulent claims for non-existent individuals from the future! It’s so absurd, I had to read it twice to believe it!”
The Trump administration’s efforts to recover these funds demonstrate a continued focus on accountability and transparency in government spending.