Vice President JD Vance, chairman of the Trump administration’s anti-fraud task force, delivered a sharp critique of government negligence regarding fraud in federal programs during a speech in Bangor, Maine, on Thursday, May 14, 2026. Speaking at Bangor International Airport, Vance singled out Maine as having one of the highest levels of fraud in the nation, ranking it third behind Minnesota and California.
"Fraud is exactly what happens when you’ve got a government that is not fighting for the American people, but is fighting for fraudsters and illegal aliens. And it had to stop." — Vice President JD Vance
Vance, whose role involves traveling the country to highlight what he terms systemic abuse of federal programs, did not mince words about Maine’s standing. "Outside of Minnesota and California, which are probably number one and number two, if they’re the gold medalist and the silver medalist … maybe Maine is the bronze medalist," he told the audience. He acknowledged that New York might also contend for that third-place spot.
The Vice President presented several examples of fraud, illustrating how taxpayer dollars have been allegedly siphoned off for decades. He cited instances of stolen identities being used to collect hospice benefits, individuals arriving in luxury vehicles to claim government assistance, and deceased persons remaining on food stamp rolls long after their deaths. Vance expressed disbelief at the scale of the issue, stating, "It’s unbelievable how much you have been fleeced by your own government over the past 15, 20, 30 years. Nobody was looking at this."
Vance emphasized that fraud is not a victimless crime, arguing that it directly impacts both taxpayers and individuals whose identities are stolen and used for illicit purposes. He linked the prevalence of fraud to government priorities, asserting, "Fraud is exactly what happens when you’ve got a government that is not fighting for the American people, but is fighting for fraudsters and illegal aliens. And it had to stop."
A significant portion of Vance’s remarks focused on the case of Rakiya Mohamed, described as an illegal immigrant who was convicted for billing Medicaid for interpretation services she never provided. Federal investigators determined Mohamed collected $15 million over a five-year period for non-existent services. Vance highlighted this case as a prime example of the fraud plaguing federal programs.
The Vice President directly attributed Maine’s fraud problem to specific political figures. "You ask yourself, why did Maine go from a state that did not have a serious fraud problem to one where I can honestly say it’s one of the worst states in the union? And I’ll give you two answers and two politicians: Number one is Janet Mills, and number two is Joe Biden," Vance stated. He added, "And thankfully, one of them has already been kicked to the curb, and one is on her way out the door, exactly as it should be," referring to outgoing Governor Janet Mills and President Donald Trump’s predecessor.
In contrast to his criticism, Vance lauded Republican former Governor Paul LePage for his efforts to combat fraud during his tenure. Vance credited LePage with doubling fraud investigations, implementing a requirement for photographs on EBT cards to verify recipient identities, and actively targeting international fraud networks operating within Maine. He described LePage as "the biggest advocate for your tax dollars and the biggest threat to fraudsters that ever existed in the state of Maine." LePage is currently campaigning for Maine’s Second Congressional District seat, held by Democrat Jared Golden, and Vance indicated the administration's desire for LePage to bring his anti-fraud focus to Washington.
Vance also criticized Governor Mills for allegedly blocking local law enforcement from collaborating with federal authorities to remove "criminal illegal aliens" from the state. He connected this policy directly to the exacerbation of fraud under her administration, calling it "preposterous" that state government has reportedly withheld cooperation from federal fraud investigators despite tens of millions in abuse coming to light.
Concluding his address, Vance encouraged Maine residents to report instances of fraud, citing independent journalist Nick Shirley’s investigative work in Minnesota as a successful model for citizen reporting. He emphasized that combating fraud should transcend political divisions, stating it "should not be a red state or a blue state issue." Vance affirmed the administration's readiness to collaborate with Maine’s governor if she opts for cooperation in the fight against fraud.
