Attorneys general from 23 states plus Washington, D.C., skipped an anti-fraud task force meeting hosted by Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday afternoon, citing “short notice.”
In a letter obtained by MS NOW, the attorneys general — all Democrats — wrote that they “are committed to stopping fraud, waste, and abuse in all government programs,” but suggested the event was planned too much at the last minute to facilitate their attendance.
“While we would appreciate the opportunity to engage in serious discussions, the invitation was provided with less than one business day’s notice with no agenda,” the attorneys general wrote. “This short notice does not match the spirit of collaboration that has long defined our joint efforts with federal partners.”
A source familiar with the planning of the meeting told MS NOW that the Democratic attorneys general received the invitation on Friday afternoon with a deadline to RSVP by the next day, while Republican attorneys general received the invitation days earlier.
Another source familiar with the planning of the event told MS NOW that it was initially planned for Republican attorneys general, but Vance wanted it broadened to include Democrats as well. The source added that some Democratic attorneys general would instead send staff to the meeting.
In addition to the attorney generals, both Andrew Ferguson, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, and Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security, are also attending.
In remarks delivered before the meeting, Vance said the initiative “should not be a partisan effort.”
President Donald Trump established the anti-fraud task force through executive order in March after announcing at his State of the Union address in February that he was putting Vance in charge of waging a “war on fraud.”
The executive order states that the vice president will chair the task force and mandates that it “coordinate and accelerate a comprehensive national strategy to stop fraud, waste, and abuse” within federal programs.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration announced it was temporarily halting Medicaid funding and child care funds to Minnesota, citing alleged fraud, as well as $10 billion for social services programs in five Democratic-led states, including Minnesota.
Lisa Rubin and Nora McKee contributed reporting.
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