Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Delivers Remarks on COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force 2024 Report

Note: View the CFETF 2024 Report press release here. View the Report here. View the fact sheet here.

Remarks as Delivered

Thanks so much, Gene, for that introduction and for your leadership on this issue.

Almost three years ago, I established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to deter, detect, and disrupt pandemic fraud wherever it occurs.

Since that time, the COVID-19 public health emergency has ended, but the Justice Department’s work to identify and prosecute those who stole pandemic relief funds is far from over.

Today, we are announcing the results so far of the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force — a team led by the Justice Department and made up of close to 30 agencies across the federal government.

The agencies have worked together to:

• Charge more than 3,500 defendants;
• Seize or forfeit over $1.4 billion in stolen COVID-19 relief funds; and
• File more than 400 civil lawsuits resulting in court judgments and settlements.

I am proud of the work of the Task Force. But that work is not done.

We look forward to working with Congress to ensure that the Task Force can continue its efforts.

The Department supports legislation to extend the statute of limitations for all COVID-19 fraud-related offenses; to continue to adequately resource our anti-fraud efforts; and to extend the life of the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, also known as the PRAC.

Before I close, I want to thank the 20 Inspectors General who make up the PRAC for their work overseeing pandemic relief spending.

I also want to thank Senators Durbin, Peters, and Wyden for taking on this critical issue.

The Justice Department is committed to continuing our efforts to investigate and prosecute pandemic relief fraud and to recover the assets that have been stolen from American taxpayers.

Thanks, Gene, for giving me an opportunity to report on results so far.