EXCLUSIVE: Taxpayers Increasingly Blame Government Fraud for Rising Cost of Living, Poll Shows

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL — As widespread government fraud emerges across the country, a new poll finds that Americans are not only overwhelmingly alarmed by taxpayer abuse but increasingly blame it for the rising cost of living.

The poll, released Tuesday by the nonpartisan watchdog on government spending, the State Financial Officers Foundation, found that 83% of voters believe that “fraud or misuse of government funds contributes to higher taxes or higher costs for families.”

An even larger number of the survey’s respondents, 87%, said they are concerned about “fraud or the misuse of taxpayer money in government programs.”

“The American people are connecting this spending fraud issue in government to affordability because good money chases after bad,” State Financial Officers Foundation CEO OJ Oleka told The Daily Signal.

“Once fraudsters steal money from the beneficiaries, the people who actually need the resources end up spending more,” Oleka added.

Oleka explained that when “fraudsters steal money from the beneficiaries,” government ultimately spends more. 

This concern has led Americans to question increased federal spending. In January, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that roughly 10% of the federal budget is lost to fraudulent activity.

According to SFOF’s poll, Americans want action. Of those surveyed, 52% said the federal government has not gone far enough to identify and stop fraud.

After years of limited enforcement, the current administration has launched new efforts aimed at combating waste, fraud, and abuse.

In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order launching a national task force led by Vice President JD Vance to root out fraud. The task force has already identified $6.3 billion in government contracts flowing to potentially fraudulent businesses, the Daily Caller reported Wednesday.

“We are incredibly supportive of the vice president and the task force,” Oleka said. “The American people are with them—and in fact, they want even more.”

He compared Vance’s initiative with past approaches, arguing that this administration is taking a significantly tougher stance.

“This is the difference between this administration and previous ones,” Oleka said. “They are actively and aggressively going after fraudsters for the benefit of the American people.”

However, Oleka said progress has been slowed by a lack of cooperation from some state officials, including administrators, attorneys general, and auditors.

Despite those obstacles, Oleka said independent watchdogs such as SFOF, which represents state treasurers, auditors, and controllers, are stepping in to fill the gap.

“We are going to stand with them every step of the way,” Oleka said of those working to root out fraud. These officers “have the statutory authority in many cases, and just as importantly, the willingness and courage to use it.”

This story has been updated for clarity.