Fraudsters accused of ripping off America’s grandparents face new crackdown under GOP bill
Legislation Fraudsters accused of ripping off America’s grandparents face new crackdown under GOP bill
The proposals require states to submit corrective action plans if payment error rates exceed 5 percent
By
Ashley J. DiMella Fox News
Published
June 18, 2026 11:15am EDT close 
Video Obama is a 'fraud and always has been,' Charlie Hurt says
'Fox & Friends Weekend' co-host Charlie Hurt critiques former President Barack Obama's post-presidency image and California Gov. Gavin Newsom's growing legal troubles on 'Jesse Watters Primetime.'
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!FIRST ON FOX: Florida Republican Sen. Ashley Moody introduced two bills that would follow the Trump administration's crackdown on fraud, waste, and abuse to protect America’s youngest and oldest, Fox News Digital has learned.
"I’ve fought fraud since my days as Attorney General, and I’ve continued that fight as a Senator. Serving as an [attorney general] gave me an awareness of the pervasiveness of schemes and emboldened my determination to hold scammers accountable," Sen. Moody told Fox News Digital. "It also opened my eyes to where gaps exist between state and federal law enforcement. I’m closing that divide, and introducing targeted legislation to address holes within current law that make it easier for bad actors to exploit vulnerable citizens and programs."
The proposals follow a growing focus in Washington on combating fraud as the Trump administration moves to strengthen oversight of federal spending and public assistance programs. Moody's two bills would strengthen safeguards against fraud in childcare programs and help law enforcement authorities go after scammers who prey on seniors.
DR OZ NAMES 5 STATES IN FRAUD CRACKDOWN AS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TARGETS MEDICAID ABUSE
Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla., leaves the Senate floor after a vote at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 21, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The Stop Child Scams Act aims to strengthen oversight of federal childcare programs by requiring states to improve program integrity measures, submit corrective action plans if payment error rates exceed 5%, and increase federal monitoring of high-risk states.
The bill would require states to detail internal controls, fraud-investigation and recovery processes, sanctions for fraudulent clients or providers, and procedures to verify eligibility.
DAVID MARCUS: FLORIDA SENATOR'S WAVE OF ANTI-FRAUD BILLS SHOULD BE SLAM DUNK
FBI and law enforcement agents raid Mini Childcare in south Minneapolis on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. (Anthony Souffle/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images)
It also permanently bars individuals convicted of childcare fraud from participating in certain federal childcare programs.
The push comes amid heightened focus on large-scale fraud cases, including Minnesota’s $250 million "Feeding Our Future" scheme, which became a national flashpoint after surfacing in 2022 and has led to a wave of convictions in recent years.
Federal agents issued search warrants at various day care and autism centers in Minnesota last month to investigate "fake" facilities allegedly taking federal money.
Moody also introduced a second fraud bill, STOP Scams Against Seniors Act, which would help states create elder justice task forces to coordinate investigations into financial exploitation, scams and fraud targeting Americans age 60 and older.
The bill incentivizes states to go after fraudsters through federal grant money to establish task forces.
The task forces would coordinate closely with state and local police departments, the FBI, the Department of Justice, and other federal law enforcement agencies.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Vice President JD Vance joined by White House deputy chief of staff and Homeland Security advisor Stephen Miller and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Andrew Ferguson during a roundtable discussion on anti-fraud initiatives on May 26, 2026, in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
The program also requires reporting on the number of cases opened and completed, the number of victims assisted, the types of scams identified, the methods used to contact victims, and any indicators of organized or transnational criminal involvement.
Ashley J. DiMella reports on politics for Fox News Digital.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
