The Senate confirmed an experienced federal prosecutor, Colin McDonald, Tuesday afternoon to act as the Justice Department’s anti-fraud division lead.
In a party line vote, McDonald was confirmed 52-47 to be the first assistant attorney general for national fraud enforcement at the DOJ.
McDonald will work with Vice President JD Vance, whom President Donald Trump named the White House “fraud czar” to lead a new task force to eliminate fraud.
Trump created the new DOJ division to “catch and stop FRAUDSTERS that have been STEALING from the American People,” he wrote on Truth Social.
“Colin is an experienced, skilled, and tough prosecutor who will continue doing incredible work to root out fraud across America,” Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote, congratulating McDonald on his confirmation. “President Trump made an outstanding choice.”
McDonald has served as a top aide to the second in command at the DOJ for the past year. Prior to coming to Washington, he served as a federal prosecutor.
As massive fraud in Minnesota and California have been brought to light this year, the administration has created new efforts to root out schemes that rip off the American taxpayer.
Just a few days prior to McDonald’s confirmation, the White House put out details on the administration’s fraud task force Vance is leading. Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission Andrew Ferguson will also have a leadership role.
“President Trump is restoring the integrity of taxpayer-funded safety-net programs that have been exploited by illegal aliens, criminals, foreign gangs, bureaucrats, and non-governmental organizations,” the White House release read.
“The Government Accountability Office estimates that as much as $500 billion in federal funds is lost each year to fraud,” Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said on the Senate floor this week.
“The American people are being robbed and they know it,” Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said on the floor Tuesday. “They see waste. They see fraud. They see abuse. They see corruption. They are sick and tired of it.”
“Americans are fed up with welfare criminals and the elected officials who tolerate them. Democrats in big cities and liberal states look the other way. The criminals know it,” Barrasso warned.