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The White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud Identifies Five COVID-era “Emergency” Contracts Disbursing Money Years After Pandemic End
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is announcing that it has identified more than $1.2 billion in suspected fraud across five COVID-related contracts as part of its collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the direction of the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.
Although the COVID-19 national emergency ended in 2023 and related GSA acquisition flexibilities were cancelled later that year, certain federal contractors continued to receive funds.
“The COVID emergency ended over three years ago, yet fraudsters continue to weaponize outdated emergency contracts to abuse taxpayer dollars. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Vice President Vance’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, GSA uncovered $1.22 billion in suspected fraud across five HHS COVID-era contracts,” said GSA Administrator Edward C. Forst. “GSA will continue to work with the Vice President’s task force to stop improper payments, refer suspected fraud to law enforcement, and fight to recover every dollar.”
“Working with GSA and the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, HHS uncovered $1.2 billion in suspected fraud across just five COVID-era contracts,” said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. “We are following the money, exposing suspected wrongdoing, referring cases to law enforcement, and fighting to recover taxpayer dollars. Under President Trump, HHS will hold those who abuse taxpayer funds accountable and strengthen our safeguards to prevent it from happening again.”
“The COVID emergency ended in 2023. The emergency contract advantage didn’t — until now,” said White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud Executive Director Scott Brady. “GSA’s review uncovered $1.22 billion in suspected fraud and stopped $41 million more across five HHS COVID-era contracts that kept the emergency label alive long after the emergency was gone. Emergency authority is a privilege, not a blank check. We’re not after the honest contractors who did real pandemic work — we’re after the leftover contracts hiding behind a crisis that no longer exists. The emergency is over. So is the free pass.”
