$521 Billion Fraud Landscape: What to Know

A federal watchdog estimated that the government lost between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office building in Washington on May 22, 2025. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times

The federal government lost up to more than a half-trillion dollars to fraud each year over a five-year period, according to an April 15 report from the Government Accountability Office.

Federally funded, state-run programs are major targets, according to April 15 testimony from Robert Westbrooks, former federal inspector general. Westbrooks said problems can occur when states control the disbursement of federal funds because that can reduce accountability and incentives.