Welfare Fraud Deterrence and Recovery Act of 2026

This bill raises the maximum federal prison sentence for making false statements about a federal welfare program to 15 years. It sets a 2-year minimum sentence for noncitizens and naturalized citizens, and a 5-year minimum when the person obtained $100,000 or more. It makes noncitizens convicted of fraud offenses deportable and eligible for expedited removal, and requires courts to revoke the citizenship of naturalized citizens convicted of defrauding a government of public benefits; those denaturalized could not return for 20 years. It also creates a Welfare Fraud Recovery Task Force in the Department of Justice that can file civil suits for triple damages and penalties, with extra penalties for noncitizens, rewards for whistleblowers, and a fund for recovered money. States receiving welfare funds must cooperate with the Task Force or risk losing up to 10 percent of program funds.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Tom Cotton Republican sponsor
• 0 cosponsors