Key Takeaways:
- Centralized Anti-Fraud Initiative. A new task force was created to coordinate enforcement across federal benefits programs.
- Upfront Controls and Oversight. There will be an increased focus on eligibility verification, pre-payment safeguards and data sharing.
- Consequences for Inadequate Controls. There is potential for federal funds to be withheld from states lacking adequate controls.
- Heightened Enforcement Risk. The DOJ will focus on False Claims Act enforcement which may drive increased qui tam activity.
On March 16, 2026, President Trump issued an Executive Order (EO) establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud (Task Force) across federal benefits programs. The Task Force is to lead government-wide efforts to strengthen oversight of programs such as Medicaid, SNAP, housing assistance and other federally funded benefits.
The Task Force will be housed within the…
IT & DATA SECURITY (MITIGATING THE “INSIDER THREAT”)
As seen in the TD Bank case, an employee with too much “access” can sell your customer data to syndicates.
- Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP): Employees should only have access to the specific folders and databases required for their current task.
- Access Revocation: Have a “Termination Checklist” that ensures all digital access (Email, VPN, Banking) is revoked within 60 minutes of an employee resigning or being dismissed.
- System Logs & Audit Trails: Enable “Read/Write Logging” on your server. If a customer’s data is leaked, you need to know exactly which login accessed that record and at what time.
- Encryption at Rest: Ensure that sensitive files (like your customer ID numbers or payroll spreadsheets) are encrypted so that if a staff member copies them to a USB, they cannot be read.