Dolls Used as IDs, Billions Paid Out [WATCH]

Senator Joni Ernst detailed a series of failures in federal oversight, pointing to examples of fraud and waste in government programs and emphasizing the need for basic verification measures to prevent future losses.

Ernst highlighted long-running issues she said have persisted across agencies, including approvals of clearly fraudulent pandemic-era loan applications and widespread improper payments in fiscal year 2024.

“For over a decade, I’ve been exposing egregious Washington waste with my monthly squeal awards. Some examples are too outrageous to believe,” Ernst said.

She pointed to specific cases uncovered during reviews of pandemic relief programs.

“I’m talking about bureaucrats approving PPP loans for applicants who used pictures of dolls for IDs. Imagine giving Barbie or Ken a taxpayer funded loan.”

She said eligibility checks also failed in cases involving applicants of impossible ages.

“Not only that, but they also believe folks claiming to be over 115 years old were alive and well enough to be approved for 3095 PPP and idle loans worth $333 million including $36,000 to a 157 year old. That’s pure hog wash,” Ernst said.

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Ernst noted that spending problems extended beyond pandemic loans.

“But this is only the tip of the iceberg. Instead of boosting Main Street, millions of your tax dollars were wasted through USAID to fund Iraqi Sesame Street,” she said.

The senator said improper payments have become routine across federal agencies.

“And this one is unacceptable. Improper payments or the government toss tossing cash into the wrong trough have become commonplace in fiscal year 2024, federal agencies shoveled out $162 billion in improper payments,” she said.

Ernst pointed to a report identifying potential fraud that could have been avoided with minimal screening.

“The most frustrating part is how simple it is to stop this waste. A report by the pandemic response accountability committee found that $79 billion in potential covid fraud could have been prevented if four basic questions were asked,” she said.

She listed the questions the report highlighted: “One, is the applicant’s Social Security Number valid? Two, if valid, does the name connected to that number match the name on the application? Three, does the birthday match? And lastly, is the individual alive?”

“Seriously, folks that could have saved $79 billion right there,” Ernst said.

Ernst said her proposed legislation is aimed at preventing these types of failures in the future.

“The good news is that we can prevent nearly all improper payments in the future with my Doge in spending act that enacts common sense guardrails like those four simple questions,” she said.

WATCH:

$79 billion in COVID fraud could have been prevented if four basic questions were asked.

Is the Social Security Number valid, does the number match the name, does the birthday match, and is the individual ALIVE?

Seriously, $79 billion. pic.twitter.com/pwpPkEGQiU

— Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) December 10, 2025