FOX First: Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), one of the founding members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), on Tuesday targeted government waste related to the COVID-19 pandemic. He is leading the introduction of the proposed legislation. President-elect Donald Trump’s next term.
The Oklahoma Republican gave Fox News Digital an exclusive first look at two bills he will introduce Tuesday. One would address unemployment fraud cases, and the other would extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting COVID-19 recovery fund fraud.
“Government efficiency is not a partisan issue, it’s an American issue. Loopholes in the law allow fraudsters to avoid billions of dollars in COVID-19 recovery and unemployment insurance payments, while Decades of government waste must end “until it ends,” Lankford said in a statement.
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) is a founding member of the DOGE caucus. (Reuters)
The first measure would allow states to stop paying unemployment benefits to claimants if they are deemed fraudulent, and would allow unemployment insurance companies to file appeals despite the potential for fraud. removes the requirement that payments resume within two weeks if the
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The latter bill would extend the statute of limitations for certain pandemic-era programs to all programs, including large and expensive programs such as the Coronavirus Relief Fund, Economic Impact Payments, and unemployment insurance.
Lankford’s office said Government Comptroller Eugene Dodaro supported the bill to address coronavirus relief fraud.
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“We are very pleased that this bill responds to the inspector general community’s request for an extension of the statute of limitations for Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Program fraud,” Lankford’s office said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. I think so.”
“This bill, if enacted, will give our oversight partners and law enforcement additional time to investigate federal fraud in these programs and hold individuals accountable to the American people. .”
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In November, President Trump announced that billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy would lead DOGE, a proposed advisory committee tasked with eliminating waste in government.
“Together, these two great Americans will pave the way for my administration to dismantle government bureaucracy, reduce overregulation, eliminate wasteful spending, and restructure federal agencies. “This is essential to the ‘Save America’ movement,” he said in a statement at the time. .
Later, Representatives Aaron Bean (R-Fla.), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Blake Moore (R-Utah), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) Leading caucuses were formed in both the House and Senate. each.
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Elon Musk (left) and Vivek Ramaswamy (Getty Images)
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Ernst is a co-sponsor of Lankford’s coronavirus fraud bill.
Before President Trump formally announced his choice of Musk and Ramaswamy to lead DOGE and its leaders, the Tesla and SpaceX billionaire announced at an October rally that it would free the government of trillions of dollars. He said he believes spending can be reduced.
“I think we can do at least $2 trillion,” Musk said at the time.
Julia Johnson is a political writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, where she leads coverage of the U.S. Senate. She previously served as a political reporter for the Washington Examiner.
Follow Julia’s reporting on X. @juliaajohnson_ Send your tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
