House Approves Measure To Crack Down on Wasteful Schemes
The House passed the Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act, 218-200.
Republicans stood united behind this commonsense reform.”
But nearly every Democrat voted against it, again demonstrating their priorities in terms of protecting the people’s money versus growing the bloated federal bureaucracy.
The bill, introduced by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), goes straight after the ridiculous “pay and chase” policy that has allowed federal agencies to write checks first and ask questions later—if at all.
Under the current broken system, billions and billions of taxpayer dollars go out the door to fraudsters, ineligible recipients and outright criminals, and bureaucrats play an expensive game of catch-up that rarely recovers the full amount.
Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act changes the game. It gives federal agencies the ability to stop, hold or split questionable payments before they are released when there is an increased risk of fraud or improper payment.
And the bill also grants the U.S. Treasury Department new authority to send flagged payment requests back to agencies for further review using objective data from systems like the Do Not Pay database.
These targeted, temporary efforts are intended to verify eligibility and accuracy to ensure that benefits are going to legitimate Americans, not scammers.“This legislation is common sense,” Chairman Comer said on the House floor.
“Congress needs to do more to prevent fraud before it occurs. “The Stopping Fraudulent Payments Act adds important safeguards to make sure federal payments go to the right person, in the right amount before funds are awarded or disbursed,” Comer added.
Comer emphasized that the federal government loses hundreds of billions of dollars a year in improper and fraudulent payments across its programs.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently estimated that in fiscal 2025 alone, improper payments will reach $186 billion — $24 billion more than the previous year — and that cumulative losses since 2003 will approach $3 trillion.
These numbers are real dollars taken from American families, small businesses and future generations through higher taxes and growing debt.
Investigations by the Oversight Committee, including explosive findings on fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs under then-Gov. Tim Walz, highlighted the urgency.
Fraud rings exploited weak controls and taxpayers were left holding the bag while eligible citizens were harmed.
This bill advances these oversight efforts, shifting from reactive recovery to proactive prevention.
Original co-sponsor and House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) put it in a broader context: “I’m tired of turning on the TV and seeing the misuse of Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars. Trillions of taxpayer dollars flow to state and local governments and every dollar must be protected from waste, fraud, and abuse.
Top Republicans weighed in with similar sentiments. “Democrats at all levels of government have ignored the rampant fraud in government programs for years,” said Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas). It’s not always an accident, and often, it’s intentional. “Federal programs need badly needed reform.”
The win dovetails nicely with President Trump’s agenda of rooting out waste.
The White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and the Department of Government Efficiency are serious commitments to fiscal responsibility.
House Republicans are keeping their promise to restore accountability to the government so programs like Social Security, Medicare and welfare go to the people who really need them.
The overwhelming Democratic opposition, with roughly 200 voting “nay” and only a handful crossing the aisle, says a lot.
They say they’re in favor of anti-fraud measures, but their voting record suggests otherwise.
The language is part of a broader package of 11 Oversight Committee bills designed to protect taxpayer dollars.
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