WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration is tightening fraud-prevention controls across federal benefit programs, citing the five-year prison sentence imposed on a Pennsylvania woman who admitted obtaining more than $1.7 million in FEMA assistance through fraudulent Hurricane Ida claims.
FEMA is increasing its use of identity verification, data analytics and prepayment screening as part of a broader effort to prevent fraudulent disaster-assistance payments before federal funds are distributed, the agency reported.
The administration’s approach is being coordinated through the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, which President Donald Trump established by executive order on March 16, 2026. The task force is charged with strengthening eligibility reviews, expanding interagency data sharing and identifying federal benefit programs vulnerable to improper payments.
The initiative follows FEMA’s investigation of more than 2,000 suspected fraud cases during fiscal 2025. The agency refers potential criminal activity to the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and other law enforcement agencies.
“By leveraging advanced data analytics, identity verification and fraud detection tools, FEMA aims to stop suspicious activity before relief funds are distributed,” FEMA Associate Administrator of External Affairs Victoria Barton stated.
FEMA cited the prosecution of Jasmine Williams, 34, of Plymouth Meeting, as an example of fraud involving disaster benefits intended for eligible survivors.
U.S. District Judge Kelley Brisbon Hodge sentenced Williams on Jan. 28 to five years in federal prison after she pleaded guilty to one count of disaster fraud, 24 counts of wire fraud and seven counts of mail fraud.
According to federal court filings, Williams recruited nearly 200 people through social media and submitted fraudulent applications for FEMA assistance between October 2021 and March 2023.
The applications included fabricated leases, landlord letters, utility bills, earnings statements and home-repair estimates. Prosecutors stated that Williams recruited renters, property owners and homeless individuals to participate.
FEMA paid $1,744,982.64 based on false information submitted through the scheme, according to the court’s loss determination.
Williams demanded half of the assistance received by participants and collected hundreds of thousands of dollars, prosecutors reported. She also solicited photographs of damaged homes for use in supporting fraudulent applications.
When one participant did not pay her, Williams posted the person’s identifying information on social media and published a video criticizing the participant for withholding the requested share, according to court filings.
The federal assistance became available after the remnants of Hurricane Ida struck eastern Pennsylvania in September 2021 and the Biden administration issued a major disaster declaration covering affected communities.
The Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General investigated the case with assistance from FEMA’s fraud investigators. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ruth Mandelbaum and S. Chandler Harris prosecuted it.
Under Trump’s executive order, agencies administering federal benefits were directed to identify their most fraud-prone transactions within 30 days. The task force was also instructed to coordinate minimum anti-fraud requirements within 60 days and require participating agencies to submit implementation plans within 90 days.
The order calls for stronger identity and eligibility verification, prepayment documentation requirements, cross-program data sharing and potential suspension or recovery of funds when fraud risks are identified.
Suspected disaster-assistance fraud may be reported to the DHS Office of Inspector General at https://www.oig.dhs.gov/hotline or to FEMA at StopFEMAFraud@fema.dhs.gov.
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