THAT WE KNOW OF: US government overpaid welfare and Medicare recipients by $186 billion last year — after a shocking surge.
The federal government overpaid welfare and social services recipients by a stunning $186 billion in fiscal year 2025, a startling surge of $24 billion from the previous year’s total.
According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), 15 federal agencies made up the massive improper payments overage spanning 64 programs, with approximately 82% of the overages the result of overpayments.
And these are just the mistakes that the government caught — usually not outright fraud, like the billions alleged in Minnesota.
More controls against fraud and mistakes would be good. Getting Washington out of the wealth-distribution business would be better.
There’s just no way you collect multitrillions in one place without attracting thieves.