From Forbes
On Thursday, the White House announced that President Joe Biden plans to ask Congress for $1.6 billion to tackle “historic” levels of fraud linked to the government’s Covid relief programs. In a press release, the White House said the money will be used to “bolster oversight” and “protect taxpayer dollars”.
In addition to the $1.6 billion request, the White House also outlined a series of steps the Biden administration will take to combat fraud associated with Covid relief programs. These steps include increased coordination between federal agencies, more resources for investigations and improved data-sharing.
The measures come as the federal government has spent more than $6 trillion in Covid relief aid since the start of the pandemic. Despite this, the government has so far been unable to stem the tide of fraudulent activities associated with the programs.
The Biden administration’s request for additional funding is an attempt to address the issue. While it remains to be seen whether Congress will approve the request, it is clear that the government is taking steps to tackle the problem of Covid-related fraud. Whether these measures will be successful in curbing the fraudulent activities remains to be seen.