Trillions of COVID-19 Relief Funds Funneled to Adversarial Nations, Congressional Panel Reveals
According to testimony before the Oversight Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee, lax anti-waste and fraud controls allowed as much as half of the trillions of tax dollars spent on pandemic relief benefits to end up in the hands of entities in China, Russia, and other U.S. adversarial nations.
Linda Miller, former Deputy Executive Director of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC), disclosed that estimates suggest half of the Pandemic unemployment assistance fraud went to adversarial nations. This revelation came in response to a question about a recent federal prosecution of Chinese government-linked hackers who stole $20 million in relief funds.
Linda Miller, an anti-waste and fraud expert consultant, previously served as the Deputy Executive Director of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) in the Department of Justice (DOJ). She is also a former Assistant Director of the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) Forensic Audits and Investigative Service group.
During her prepared testimony, Miller highlighted the vulnerabilities in the system that allowed for widespread fraud. She stated, “The nearly $5 trillion in government relief spending during the COVID-19 pandemic—much of which was disbursed as direct payments to citizens—created the perfect storm for fraud.”
Miller emphasized that agencies were unprepared for the fraud due to a lack of attention on fraud risks. She pointed out that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) had issued a framework for managing fraud risks in federal programs in 2015, but preventative controls were not established.
Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz addresses a Congressional panel in February 2023. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.), the chairman of the subcommittee, shared a personal anecdote about his wife’s experience with fraudulent benefit applications. He revealed that his wife, who managed an Arizona surgery center, received numerous benefit requests from individuals who had never worked there or hadn’t worked there in years. The situation reached its peak when his wife received benefit requests in her own name.
Schweikert highlighted the extent of the fraud, stating, “We have been tracking some crazy stories of [pandemic relief] unemployment insurance fraud that was converted to gift cards, which were then used to buy cars. These cars were shipped to Africa as a way to launder the money.” He also mentioned evidence of foreign entities using stolen funds to support violent activities overseas.
Rebecca Shea, Director of Audits, Forensic Audits, and Investigative Services at the GAO, confirmed that foreign actors exploited pandemic relief programs. She emphasized that federal program managers focused primarily on processing benefits, neglecting their responsibility to prevent fraud.
Amy Simon, who worked in the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) during the pandemic, testified that the full extent of pandemic benefit fraud is still unknown. She revealed that preliminary federal estimates suggest at least $191 billion in improper payments, with the figure expected to rise to $240 billion or more. Simon also highlighted the involvement of serious organized crime rings in pandemic fraud.
The U.S. Department of Labor Building on March 26, 2020, in Washington. (Alex Edelman/AFP via Getty Images)
These revelations underscore the urgent need for stronger anti-fraud measures and oversight in government relief programs. The scale of the fraud and its impact on national security cannot be ignored.
What are the potential national security risks associated with a significant portion of COVID-19 relief funds ending up in the hands of adversarial nations, as emphasized in the statement?
Cdote during the hearing, revealing that his own father had been a victim of unemployment insurance fraud. He emphasized the need for stronger controls and oversight to prevent such fraud from occurring in the future.
The revelation that a significant portion of COVID-19 relief funds has ended up in the hands of adversarial nations raises serious concerns. Not only does this undermine the intended purpose of providing relief to American citizens and businesses affected by the pandemic, but it also poses national security risks.
Entities in adversarial nations such as China and Russia may misuse these funds to advance their own interests, potentially funding malicious activities such as cyberattacks, espionage, or projects that undermine U.S. national security. This highlights the importance of robust anti-waste and fraud controls in government spending, particularly during times of crisis.
It is crucial that the U.S. government takes immediate action to rectify this situation and prevent further funds from being funneled to adversarial nations. This includes strengthening oversight mechanisms, implementing stricter fraud prevention measures, and holding accountable those responsible for allowing such fraud to occur.
The Department of Justice, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, should launch thorough investigations into these fraudulent activities and prosecute those involved. Additionally, Congress should enact legislation that strengthens laws and regulations related to the disbursement of relief funds to ensure more stringent oversight and accountability
