“You Let Criminals Steal From Autistic Kids” [WATCH]

Vice President JD Vance discussed what he described as widespread fraud in government programs during remarks in North Carolina, outlining actions the Trump administration says it is taking to investigate misuse of taxpayer funds and enforce accountability.

Vance said the administration has begun examining programs across the country to determine how fraud has occurred and how resources intended for Americans have been misused.

“Well, you know, we know there’s a lot of fraud in California, and we’re trying to get to the bottom of exactly what it looks like,” Vance said.

“And what we’ve done in the Trump administration, and the President has really empowered us to do this is to take the first national look at the way the American people have been defrauded over many, many years.”

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Vance said investigations have identified significant financial irregularities in several areas, including in Minnesota.

“And I’ll give you a few very concrete examples. So in the state of Minnesota, you asked about Minnesota, we think that there’s probably been $19 billion at least a fraud just committed in Minneapolis and the surrounding areas,” Vance said.

According to Vance, fraud has not only affected taxpayers but has also diverted assistance from individuals the programs were designed to help.

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“Let me give you an example this because it’s not just the American people being defrauded. It’s not just your tax dollars that are being stolen out of your wallet and given to fraudsters. It’s the fact that the services we need to deliver to needy people are not getting delivered because they’re going to fraudsters,” Vance said.

He referenced a Medicaid-related program intended to support children with developmental conditions.

“So for example, there’s a program that we have, and I believe it’s under Medicaid, where we try to help kids who have autism, Asperger’s and so forth. Sometimes they need a little extra help. Sometimes they need somebody to sit with them after school. Sometimes they need somebody to provide transportation to certain places, and we have a program within Medicaid to ensure that these needy kids get the resources that they need,” Vance said.

Vance said the program reflects a broader principle about helping vulnerable Americans.

“And it’s one of the things, by the way, I love about the United States of America. We want everybody to work hard. We want everybody to play by the rules. But if we’ve got a needy kid in our community, we’re not going to let that person fall down on their own. All Americans are going to lift that kid up together. That’s an amazing thing about our country,” he said.

Vance alleged that individuals exploited the system by filing fraudulent claims.

“But you know what was happening for this program that was meant to help needy kids is you would have Somali fraudsters, many of them illegal immigrants, who would go and say that they had an autistic kid, even though they didn’t, they would collect that money for themselves,” Vance said.

He also claimed businesses participated in the scheme.

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