Covid Fraud Enforcement Faces Challenges, DOJ Officials Warn

Federal enforcement combating pandemic benefits fraud is imperiled by budget tightening and impending program expirations that would let off identity thieves and other criminals, Justice Department officials warn.

“Challenges loom” to continue the fight against Covid-19 schemes, which require significant additional data mining and investigating four years after Congress dramatically expanded financial relief for individuals and businesses, said Michael Galdo, DOJ’s director of Covid-19 fraud enforcement—along with two deputies—in a report Tuesday.

They called on Congress to extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting fraudsters, reauthorize a special committee that feeds data to law enforcement agencies before it sunsets ...