Naples, FL – The Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) applauds USDA’s renewed focus on program integrity, including transparency, fraud and waste prevention, payment accuracy, and improved quality control.
Welfare fraud costs taxpayers billions of dollars each year and robs resources from the truly needy. Current loopholes allow even millionaires to receive welfare benefits and limited oversight has resulted in a system riddled with waste, fraud, and abuse. USDA’s renewed focus on combating fraud includes tasking the Chief Integrity Officer with oversight of food stamps and other welfare programs administered by Food and Nutrition Service, as well as initiating a comprehensive review of all program integrity efforts. This action comes after previous USDA decisions giving states more flexibility to root out welfare fraud.
“USDA is to be commended for its renewed focus combatting welfare fraud. The appointment of Chief Integrity Officer will help improve the integrity of our broken welfare system and ensure that the safety net is preserved for those who truly need it, not millionaires and fraudsters,” said Tarren Bragdon, President and CEO of FGA. “We look forward to seeing the result of USDA’s continuing efforts to root out fraud and abuse.”
The Foundation for Government Accountability is a non-profit, multi-state think tank that specializes in health care, welfare, and work reform. To learn more, visit TheFGA.org.
###
