Trump administration creates new DOJ division to tackle fraud

The Trump administration announced a new Department of Justice division for national fraud enforcement and said an assistant attorney general will lead investigations; rights advocates have criticized the move as targeting immigrants and political opponents.

The Trump administration announced it is creating a new division at the U.S. Department of Justice to enforce federal criminal and civil laws against fraud. The White House described the unit as focusing on fraud affecting federal programs, federally funded benefits, businesses, nonprofits and private citizens. The administration said an assistant attorney general will lead investigations, prosecutions and remedies and will advise the attorney general and deputy attorney general. What is known: - The White House announced a "division for national fraud enforcement" and outlined its stated mission to address fraud affecting federal programs and private parties. - The administration said the new division will be led by an assistant attorney general who will oversee investigations, prosecutions and related policy matters and advise senior DOJ officials. - Rights advocates and critics said the administration has used fraud allegations to target immigrants and political opponents and questioned the approach. - The administration announced freezes on more than $10 billion in federal childcare and family assistance funds to several states, and those states later filed lawsuits against the federal action. Summary: The announcement establishes a new federal enforcement structure focused on fraud and names a leadership role to guide related investigations and prosecutions. Critics have raised concerns about the use of fraud claims against specific communities and political opponents, and some states have sued over frozen funding. Undetermined at this time.