The Department of Justice (DOJ) has established a new task force in partnership with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in fraudulent activities. This bold initiative, announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi, comes in response to widespread fraud uncovered within government programs, many of which were revealed by DOGE.
During a Cabinet meeting on Monday, Bondi expressed gratitude to DOGE and its leader, Elon Musk, for their work in exposing corruption and inefficiencies. She emphasized that the DOJ’s new task force is dedicated to eliminating fraud and ensuring that those responsible are held accountable.
“There is a tremendous amount of fraud, and Elon, thank you for your partnership, thank you for your team. You have uncovered so much fraud in our government. And we will prosecute you. We have an internal task force now working with every agency sitting here at this table,” Bondi said Monday. The attorney general made it clear that the DOJ will aggressively pursue fraudsters and ensure they are brought to justice. “If you’ve committed fraud, we’re coming after you.”
She noted further: “On the violent crime level, thanks to President Trump’s directive, we are seeking the death penalty again. So all of these horrible, violent criminals that you’re hearing about around the country, they will face the death penalty federally within our country.” She added: “The drug dealers need to get out of here because we are coming after you!”
The initiative builds on ongoing efforts to enhance accountability in federal programs. The DOGE Subcommittee has already uncovered billions of dollars lost to fraud and improper payments, revealing major vulnerabilities in government payment systems. Since its establishment, DOGE has implemented several cost-saving measures across federal agencies. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) canceled over 400 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Environmental Justice grants, resulting in savings of more than $2 billion.
However, DOGE’s actions have faced legal challenges. A federal judge temporarily blocked DOGE from accessing Social Security Administration systems containing personal data of millions of Americans, citing concerns over “fishing expeditions” in the search for fraud. Additionally, 19 states have filed a lawsuit to prevent DOGE from accessing Treasury Department payment systems, leading to a preliminary injunction.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been involved in these legal matters. Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater announced a review of expenditures on external consultants within the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, in line with DOGE’s cost-cutting goals. Furthermore, federal prosecutor Edward Martin warned of potential legal consequences for those obstructing DOGE’s efforts.
