Trump's week in review: Kennedy Center closure; meeting with Armenian church leaders
2. Trump admin announces nearly $250M in PPP fraud uncovered
During a press conference Monday, top Trump administration officials provided updates on the ongoing efforts of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud. The press conference focused on fraud related to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was established during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep small businesses afloat amid lockdowns imposed to stop the pandemic’s spread.
“It was created to save jobs and keep good American businesses alive during COVID, but some fraudsters treated it like a personal piggy bank,” Blanche said of PPP.
He announced that a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Justice, the FBI and the Small Business Administration, as well as “40 U.S. Attorney’s Offices and 20 federal and state investigative agencies” between June 12 and Aug. 31 uncovered approximately $245 million in PPP loans obtained under false pretenses, resulting in criminal charges against 80 individuals.
Vice President JD Vance also appeared at the event, where he addressed prospective fraudsters.
“If you’re thinking about defrauding the American taxpayer, if you’re thinking about skimming off the top, if you’re thinking about taking [from] a program that was meant for hungry children or for needy young mothers, don’t do it,” he proclaimed.
“Go and get a job instead because this administration is not going to let you steal from people who we’re supposed to be taking care of in this country so that you can get rich while the American taxpayer works their tail off in order to fund our government,” Vance added. “They’re working to fund the United States government, they are not working to fund fraudsters and we’re not going to let it happen anymore.”
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
