Ernst Delivers Fraudsters’ Day of Reckoning to the Senate Floor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate DOGE Caucus Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is forcing Washington to choose between fraudsters and taxpayers by bringing her Protecting American Taxpayers Act up for a vote. While Uncle Sam loses up to $521 billion in fraud a year, Ernst is leading the effort to develop a comprehensive anti-fraud package with her colleagues. The legislation is projected to save taxpayers $240 billion by preventing fraud before it occurs, recovering stolen funds, and holding criminals accountable. “The American taxpayer is not a piggy bank for fraudsters, and it’s time Washington started acting like it,” said Senator Ernst . “Criminals steal more than $1 billion from taxpayers every single day. My Protecting American Taxpayers Act cracks down on these schemes, stops fraud before it starts, and recovers stolen dollars. By putting this bill up for a vote, every senator will have the chance to prove whether they stand with taxpayers or criminals.” “Iowans are fed up with billions of taxpayer dollars being lost every year to waste, fraud and abuse,” said Senator Grassley . “As a watchdog for those taxpayers, I’ve helped lead the charge to stop brazen criminals from stealing Americans’ hard-earned money. That’s why I’m proud to join Senator Ernst in introducing this comprehensive legislation to crack down on fraudsters, protect taxpayer dollars and curb wasteful spending. Our bill, which includes my Expanding Whistleblower Protections for Contractors Act , shows how Republicans are standing up for the rule of law and protecting the pocketbooks of working families.” "Making the government more efficient isn't a partisan issue, it's an American issue,” said Senator Lankford . “Loopholes in the law let fraudsters get away with billions in COVID recovery payouts while forcing taxpayers to foot the bill. The Protecting American Taxpayers Act closes those loopholes, by clawing back more than $65 billion in unspent COVID funds to make sure COVID criminals do not escape accountability simply because the clock ran out. I have spent years documenting Washington's Federal Fumbles, and I am proud my Recover Fraudulent COVID Funds Act is included in this package. The decades of government waste must come to an end." “Congress must do more to protect innocent Americans who are being defrauded left and right while crooks and illegal migrants profit,” said Senator Cornyn . “I’m proud to join my colleagues on this package of legislation, which includes my VSAFE Act to protect veterans from scams, to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, scammers are held accountable, and fraud is rooted out once and for all.” “Fraudsters are always looking for the next weak spot, and for years Washington has made their job far too easy,” said Senator Marshall . “President Trump has brought a renewed focus to rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse, and Congress should seize this opportunity to make those reforms permanent. I'm proud to work with Senator Ernst on this legislation and pleased that my WALZ Act is included in the package. Together, these reforms close the loopholes that have cost taxpayers billions and better protect the hard-earned dollars of Kansas families.” “Nebraskans are honest, trusting people. We expect others to behave the same way,” said Senator Ricketts. “However, too many fraudsters are stealing taxpayer money. Our bill will combat this fraud, waste, and abuse. It will protect American taxpayer dollars and ensure our programs serve only Americans who need them.” “Scammers are using deep fakes to impersonate victims’ family members to steal their money with the elderly being the most vulnerable. As fraudsters continue to scheme, we need to use every tool we have to stay ahead of scams and better protect innocent Americans,” said Senator Husted . “My bill—the Protecting Deep Fake Scams Act —would protect Ohio’s seniors, families and small business owners from malicious actors who take advantage of their compassion. I’m grateful for Senator Ernst’s leadership in cracking down on fraud and look forward to getting this package across the finish line.” “Thanks to the Trump Administration, we’ve learned in recent months just how rampant fraud is across our federal government,” said Senator Britt . “This legislation takes important steps not only to crack down on this fraud once and for all and hold fraudsters accountable, but also to protect hardworking taxpayer dollars. I’m thankful to Senator Ernst for her tireless leadership, and I’m proud to join her and many of my colleagues in our continued efforts to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse.” “Hard-working Americans expect their tax dollars to be used responsibly,” said Senator Young . “Senator Ernst's Protecting American Taxpayers Act takes important steps to prevent waste, strengthen oversight, and hold bad actors accountable. I'm proud this package includes my Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act , which helps ensure fraudsters cannot exploit programs intended to support legitimate small businesses. I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this package across the finish line.” “TANF is an important program that is unfortunately susceptible to fraud, which takes resources away from needy families who depend on the program,” said Senator Daines . “I am proud to work with Senator Ernst to strengthen this critical program and ensure that the tax dollars that help fund it help those most in need.” “The American people expect accountability when the government spends their hard-earned tax dollars," said Senator Cramer . "Grifters have been defrauding Americans and taking advantage of lax oversight for far too long. Our Protecting American Taxpayers Act roots out waste, fraud, and abuse throughout the government and saves taxpayers billions.” “For decades, Washington’s failed welfare programs allowed fraudsters to rig the system and waste taxpayers’ hard earned money,” said Senator Moreno. “It is time for our DC Democrat colleagues to decide whether they stand with hardworking Americans or with the criminals who have exploited the system for far too long.” “When hardworking moms and dads lie down to sleep at night, they’re worried about the cost of living. Fraudsters worry about finding new ways to steal from taxpayers. I’m sick of watching these crooks game the system and so are the American people,” said Senator Kennedy . “I’m proud to support the Protecting American Taxpayers Act which will help stop the outrageous theft, protect taxpayer dollars and hold these criminals accountable.” "The notion that American tax dollars have been used to bankroll the very terrorists who want to destroy our country is an insult to the warfighters who have put their lives on the line in defense of Western civilization and our way of life,” said Senator Sheehy . “My No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act ensures not a single tax dollar ends up in the hands of America's enemies, and I’m proud to see it included in this package.” “Democrats and the Biden regime let fraud run rampant, allowing criminal illegal aliens and fraudsters to take advantage of our systems and steal billions of dollars from law-abiding Americans. We are pulling the curtain back. The fraudsters and bad actors exploiting hardworking Americans will be held accountable,” said Senator Schmitt . “I am proud to cosponsor Senator Ernst’s anti-fraud package. This is a start, and the Senate Anti-Fraud Task Force looks forward to building off this work to take down organized fraud rings across the country.” This legislation is endorsed by Americans for Prosperity (AFP), National Taxpayers Union (NTU), and Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW): “American taxpayers should be able to count on the federal government being careful with their hard-earned dollars instead of losing them to waste and theft. Congress can and must do better. Senator Ernst’s Protecting American Taxpayers Act pulls together a variety of her and colleagues’ proposals to start cleaning up the mess. We commend their commitment to cutting government waste and urge Congress to enact this package soon,” said Kurt Couchman, Senior Fellow in Fiscal Policy at Americans for Prosperity . “NTU is proud to support the Protecting American Taxpayers Act , sponsored by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA). This well crafted bundle of reforms is projected to save taxpayers $240 billion over 10 years by stopping fraud before it happens, requiring stronger tracking of federal spending, and tracking down past fraudulent Covid spending. We applaud Senator Ernst and the twelve original cosponsors of this bill, and urge all Senators to support its passage,” said David Timmons, Senior Policy Manager at the National Taxpayers Union. "The Protecting American Taxpayers Act , S. 4378 , combines 15 separate bills into a single piece of legislation that should be supported by every senator who believes taxpayer dollars should not be subject to waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement. S. 4378 would make it harder to steal the taxpayer’s money and easier to recover those funds after they are pilfered. It would extend the statute of limitations to recover funds stolen during Covid and increase the recovery and prevention of improper payments. The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste supports S. 4378 and encourages senators to vote for this comprehensive, sensible bill when it is considered by the Senate,” said Tom Schatz, President of the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste . Ernst’s Protecting American Taxpayers Act includes 16 initiatives supported by both Democratic and Republican senators: To recover wasteful funds: Senator Ernst’s Stop Fraud Before Payment Act and Senator Marshall’s WALZ Act require payments be made as reimbursements only after a service has been provided; Senator Young’s Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act prevents criminals convicted of defrauding the Small Business Administration from receiving future assistance; Senator Ernst’s Returning Unspent COVID Funds Act claws back unused COVID funds, which has totaled more than $65 billion; Senator Paul’s Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act allows Inspectors General to pay out bonuses to employees who uncover fraud in government programs; and Senator Ricketts’ Improper Payments Transparency Act requires data on improper payments in the president’s annual budget request. To protect taxpayer dollars: Senator Daines’ JOBS for Success Act increases accountability for employment outcomes through updates to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program; Senator Banks’ No Funding for Foreign Agents Act prohibits funds from going to countries under travel bans or arms embargos; and Senator Sheehy’s No Tax Dollars for Terrorists Act discloses cash assistance in Afghanistan to prevent Taliban access. To stop fraudsters and hold them accountable: Senator Husted’s Preventing Deep Fake Scams Act establishes a task force to combat deep fake scams; Senator Ernst’s SBA Fraud Enforcement Extension Act and Senator Lankford’s Recover Fraudulent COVID Funds Act extend the statutes of limitations to ensure criminals are caught and held accountable; Senator Ernst’s Fraud Alert Systems Act requires the U.S. Treasury to have a description of every payment and crosscheck it; Senator Moreno’s Stopping Transfers of Public Funds Abroad Act requires individuals who want to conduct international wire transfers to certify that they do not receive public assistance; Senator Cornyn’s VSAFE Act of 2025 provides consistent scam prevention guidance for veterans; and Senator Grassley’s Expanding Whistleblower Protection for Contractors Act of 2025 closes loopholes in whistleblower protection laws. Read the bill here and one pager here . ###