Policy Updates

Federal Policy & Enforcement Developments

The administration launched three major anti-fraud enforcement initiatives in the opening months of 2026. Together they represent the most significant restructuring of federal fraud enforcement in recent years — creating new prosecution infrastructure, cross-agency coordination, and explicit mandates to prioritize elder fraud and cyber-enabled scams.

January 8, 2026   ·   DOJ / NEW DIVISION

National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED) Established Within DOJ

The Department of Justice formally created the National Fraud Enforcement Division — a consolidated enforcement unit that absorbs DOJ’s existing Tax Section, Healthcare Fraud Unit, and Market/Government/Consumer Fraud Unit under a single command. The NFED is the operational engine for federal fraud prosecution. Led by Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald, it targets healthcare fraud, tax fraud, benefits fraud, and schemes to misappropriate taxpayer funds. A National Fraud Detection Center will use data analytics to identify fraud patterns across government programs. Every U.S. Attorney’s office nationwide is required to designate a dedicated fraud prosecutor to coordinate with the NFED.

›  White House Fact Sheet — National Fraud Enforcement Division

›  DOJ Establishes NFED — Holland & Knight

March 6, 2026   ·   EXECUTIVE ORDER

E.O. 14390 — Combating Cybercrime, Fraud, and Predatory Schemes Against American Citizens

President Trump signed Executive Order 14390, directing the full weight of the federal government against transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) operating overseas scam centers that target Americans — particularly older adults. The order mandates a comprehensive government-wide review of all available operational, technical, diplomatic, and regulatory tools to combat TCO-run fraud. The Attorney General is directed to prioritize prosecutions of cyber-enabled fraud and scam schemes. An action plan must identify the specific TCOs behind scam centers and propose concrete measures to prevent, disrupt, investigate, and dismantle their operations. The NFED within DOJ is the primary vehicle for executing these prosecutions.

›  E.O. 14390 Full Text — White House

›  Fact Sheet — Cybercrime Executive Order

›  Federal Register — E.O. 14390

March 16, 2026   ·   EXECUTIVE ORDER

E.O. 14395 — Establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud

President Trump signed Executive Order 14395 creating a formal inter-agency Task Force to Eliminate Fraud — the coordination umbrella that sits above the NFED and directs all federal departments to align their fraud-fighting efforts. Chaired by Vice President JD Vance, with FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson as Vice Chair, the Task Force includes DOJ, DHS, Treasury, HHS, DOL, HUD, USDA, Education, SBA, and VA. Its role is inter-agency coordination and intelligence sharing, not direct prosecution. The Task Force appears designed to redirect agency resources toward the NFED. Legal analysts anticipate possible expansion to include civil enforcement tools such as the False Claims Act.

›  E.O. 14395 Full Text — White House

›  Fact Sheet — Task Force to Eliminate Fraud

›  CRS Report — E.O. 14395 Analysis

How These Three Initiatives Work Together

NFED is the enforcement arm — it investigates and prosecutes. E.O. 14390 sets the targeting priorities — foreign-based TCOs running scam operations that target Americans, especially seniors. E.O. 14395 is the coordination layer — ensuring all 11+ federal agencies share intelligence and direct resources toward the same goals. Together, they represent the most integrated federal anti-fraud infrastructure to date.

Items to Watch — Coming Months

  • FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025 Annual Data Book — Expected release mid-2026. Will provide the full demographic breakdown of all fraud types reported in 2025. Only preliminary figures from congressional testimony are currently available.
  • NFED expansion to civil enforcement — DOJ’s Office of Legal Policy has been directed to evaluate whether non-criminal DOJ units (including False Claims Act civil enforcement) should be brought under NFED authority. Decision expected within 120 days of the April 2026 NFED memo.
  • IC3 Action Plan on Transnational Scam Centers — E.O. 14390 requires the administration to submit a detailed action plan identifying specific TCOs and proposed countermeasures. Watch for public releases tied to this mandate.
  • FTC enforcement posture under new leadership — Under Chairman Andrew Ferguson, the FTC’s consumer enforcement priorities are shifting. Monitor for changes to how elder fraud complaints are prioritized under the new Task Force structure.