The Trump administration is establishing a new high-level position within the Justice Department specifically to lead investigations into fraud, Vice President JD Vance announced. This Senate-confirmed Assistant Attorney General will focus on instances of fraud, particularly in social service programs, and will operate under the direct supervision of President Donald Trump and Vance himself, marking a significant departure from standard protocol.
A New Prosecutor with Nationwide Reach
Vice President JD Vance told reporters on Thursday that the new Assistant Attorney General will "have nationwide jurisdiction over the issue of fraud." The White House is expected to name its nominee for the powerful post in the coming days. Vance positioned the role as a key part of the administration's agenda, stating, "This is the person who is going to make sure that we stop defrauding the American people." He further indicated the appointee is expected to remain in the role for at least the remainder of the current term.
Breaking from Tradition on Supervision
This move represents a substantial break from long-standing tradition. Historically, presidents have maintained a distance from the Justice Department to avoid any perception of political interference in law enforcement matters. The Trump administration has explicitly rejected this practice. President Trump and Vice President Vance — rather than the Justice Department's own leadership — will personally supervise the new official. This continues a pattern where Trump has exercised tight control over the department, often directing it to pursue cases against his political adversaries.
Context: Minneapolis Shooting and Fraud Crackdown
The announcement came amid a brewing controversy over a deadly incident in Minneapolis. There, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer shot and killed a female driver during an operation. The officer was in Minnesota as part of a large-scale action ordered by the Trump administration following a series of cases where Somali immigrants are accused of cheating federal social service programs. The administration has sought to highlight such fraud cases to argue that Democrats have mismanaged both immigration policy and federal funds.
While Vance and Trump have described the shooting as an act of self-defense, publicly circulated video footage does not clearly support that claim. The video shows agents approaching an SUV, with one agent firing as the vehicle begins to move forward. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from local officials, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who accused ICE agents of acting dangerously and escalating tensions.
Vance dismissed these concerns, calling Governor Walz "a joke." He made a direct connection to the new fraud-focused position, alleging, "He’s a guy who has enabled fraud, and maybe, in fact, has participated in fraud. That’s what this new assistant attorney general position is going to find out." This rhetoric underscores the administration's intent to use the new legal role to investigate and target political opponents and Democrat-run states.
