Reference News, March 17 report, according to Reuters, March 16 report, US President Trump signed an executive order on March 16 to establish a national special task force led by Vice President Vance to investigate the fraudulent use of federal funds in some states' social welfare programs.
The report stated that Trump had previously assigned Vance to lead an investigation into the misuse of funds in Minnesota. The order signed on the 16th requires the task force to investigate fraud across the country. Trump has repeatedly mentioned a scandal in Minnesota in 2020: 47 people were charged with defrauding $250 million (about 1.724 billion yuan - note from this site) in federal-funded child nutrition programs.
On March 16, Trump also specifically named California and claimed that such incidents occur more frequently in Democratic-controlled states than in Republican-controlled ones, but he provided no evidence.
The executive order requires the task force members to develop a plan to implement anti-fraud measures within 90 days.
In a statement document, the White House pointed out that California, Illinois, New York, Maine, and Colorado have "inadequate oversight." Vance criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz last month for failing to combat fraud and froze over $250 million in Medicaid funding for the state. Walz was a campaign partner of Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate in 2024.
In response, Walz strongly criticized the Trump administration, calling it "a retaliatory action." (Translated by Wang Dongdong)
Original source: toutiao.com/article/7618213872398271003/
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