Trump threatens to pull unemployment benefits from all states for the first time in history

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

“We are officially putting governors on notice,” Sonderling said in a statement Wednesday.

“The American people will no longer tolerate the blatant waste, fraud and abuse of their hard-earned tax dollars — no state should allow it either,” he added. “If states allow it, they will suffer the consequences. This department is no longer afraid to use every lever available to ensure taxpayer money is protected.”

Trump has appointed Vice President JD Vance to lead a Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, ostensibly designed to root out abuse but fueled by the administration’s politically motivated crusade against Democratic-led states.

But advocacy groups and members of Congress have accused the Trump administration of disguising Republicans’ long-running campaign to slash social services with a veneer of “anti-fraud” enforcement.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-unemployment-benefits-fraud-b2997881.html

[MarineCombatEngineer]

1. Does this mental midget realize that the most people who would be impacted by this shit

are the very people who foolishly voted for him?
Not that he gives 2 shits, but it would be another nail in the coffin for the repuke party.

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

2. He'd really only go after Blue states

[MarineCombatEngineer]

4. He's saying all states, although he probably meant just blue states. nt

[Bluetus]

40. Precisely the case. This is never about fraud. It is about punishing enemies.

[B.See]

7. "the most people who would be impacted by this shit are the very people who foolishly voted for him"

Not in the delusional MAGA mind. In their minds, the only people getting unemployment are the "they and them" they reference in their political ads.

[littlemissmartypants]

12. He precisely understands it.

The way psychopaths show affection is by inducing pain. He's showing his love for his base by torturing them.

I'm having a hard time explaining just how twisted a psychopath can be.

Their brains are not like the average person.

They are SO TWISTED it's difficult not only to understand but also to explain.

People just don't want to believe that someone can be So Messed Up.

The only other way to picture the pattern of their thoughts is to think about the opposite of what's normal for us as how they think, feel, and act.

To love is to hurt for the psychopath.

It's very difficult to confront. The fact that someone can be SO EVIL, but they are, and they are dangerous.

[whopis01]

43. Do the mental midgets that support him realize

that they are the ones being hit by his actions?

[GenThePerservering]

3. "This department is no longer afraid to use every lever available to ensure taxpayer money is protected."

"So it can be handed over to the Trump family intact."

[KPN]

14. BINGO!

[Johonny]

5. Im sure just New York, Minnesota, and California

Despite all the fraud in the South, we won't even look at those states.

[MustLoveBeagles]

6. Illinois too

He really hates Pritzger

[ShazzieB]

17. Just what I was gonna say.

Trump will never forgive Pritzker for having $1.7 milion dollars worth of medical supplies flown directly from China to Illinois in secret, at the height of the pandemic. JB had to do it that way to keep the Trump administration from seizing the cargo for the federal stockpile that Jared was guarding as jealously as a Canada Goose guarding its nest.

Just think of it: an Anerican governor was forced to smuggle medical supplies into his state during a global pandemic, for fear of an American president seizing them! How crazy is that? Only in Trump Bizarro World America!

[MustLoveBeagles]

23. That and the Pritzkers were competitive with the trump

Going back to the 90's. I think trump mayve lost out on a deal and he never forgives.

[ShazzieB]

44. Oh, I did not know that!

It makes perfect sense, though.

[littlemissmartypants]

22. Have you heard about the NC Auditor, Dave Boliek?

He just finished his audit of the "fraud" committed by unemployment claimants in NC. He's exactly what this Christian Nationalist government loves.

He's going through NC's books like a buzz saw from every direction. Sound familiar?

He calls it auditing. But it really looks more like meddling and creating problems out of thin air.

The purpose isn't to save money or stop fraud. The purpose is to eliminate programs and benefits and to use the "savings" to pad the pockets of the kleptocracy.

It's all in print in Project 2025, and they are following their plan to the letter.

[Johonny]

38. Southern states

Make programs created by Congress but left up to the states harder and harder to get by their citizens. However, they don't turn around and ask for less $$ from congress. Instead, they control that money for graft and fraud. Brett Favre's deal is the typical example of how they abuse those funds. Meanwhile people suffer.

[littlemissmartypants]

41. Define Southern States, please. ❤️

[not fooled]

8. They want to take everything that benefits the non-wealthy

Unfortunately most 'Muricans don't realize that they are coming for it all. I try to explain that the Democrats via the New Deal created programs that help people, but that pukes are taking it away, piece by piece. Waste of time--people don't get it or think it isn't affecting them. Ah well, I tried.

[aggiesal]

9. Life is like an The Onion. n/t

[Doodley]

10. Food stamps, unemployment, disability, Medicare, Medicaid---the money has to come from somewhere to send to

Iran and his billionaire friends.

[Figarosmom]

11. Isn't unemployment from the state taxes?

[Wiz Imp]

15. Yes, except in periods of high unemployment, then the Federal Government may fund extended benefits

The last Extended Benefit program was during COVID and ended in 2021. The Federal Government has funded $0 in unemployment benefits for the last 5 years.

[Boo1]

39. Yup

But Trump probably doesn't know that because he's stupid.

[progressoid]

13. blatant waste, fraud and abuse?

Apparently that doesn't apply to people like Rick Scott or Philip Esformes or Lawrence Duran or...

[Ford_Prefect]

16. The "Fraud Squad" should look much closer to home: DJT himself, DHS, SCOTUS, the Trump family Federal contracts,

Kash Patel, and so many others in this administration.

[Americanme]

18. He wants to protect taxpayer money?

What about taxpayer money going to Iran? Taxpayer money going to his vanity projects? Taxpayer money he tried suing for? Taxpayer money he wants to give to J-6 criminals? He is an orange blob of crap.

[TomSlick]

19. That should be an easy lawsuit.

[Buddyzbuddy]

20. Translation: my billionaire backers need cheap labor.

[BidenRocks]

21. Hey Dumbass! With a 'B'!

Fraud is illegal in every state!
So, just another shit show?
Let's outlaw chump!

[littlemissmartypants]

24. It's part of Project 2025 which they are still following.

[Wiz Imp]

25. This is beyond crazy, I'd consider it criminal

Unemployment benefits are funded 100% by each individual state by taxing employers. States with higher taxes provide higher benefits. It is only during periods of high unemployment that the Federal Government will fund extended benefit programs. The last time this happened was during COVID. That extended benefit program ended in 2021, so since then, the Federal Government has funded 0 Unemployment benefits.

However, the Federal Government provides 100% of the funding to operate the state programs. I assume this is what they are threatening to cut. States can't operate these programs without the Federal money. But None of the Federal funding covers any fraudulent benefits.

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/financial-management/2026/06/us-tells-states-to-deal-with-unemployment-fraud-or-face-penalties/

Government audits of a sample of cases from last year suggested that nearly $1 in $9 in the programs was an overpayment — and that most of those were for reasons other than fraud. They varied by state, but many involved work-search requirements or eligibility disputes after someone left a job.

There also doesn’t appear to be a strong connection between which party governs a state and how much overpayment or fraud there is.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom ’s office blasted the move and criticized “lax regulations and rushed distribution” of unemployment benefits by the first Trump administration during the COVID-19 pandemic.

[pat_k]

26. All their bleating about benefit fraud is about ERRORS. Simple errors.

Errors on the part of a case manager. Errors on the part of an applicant that are easily remedied.

Errors that result in UNDERPAYMENTS (i.e., if everything else in their "fraud rate" is "fraud" than those underpayment errors are frauds on the recipients, but somehow that NEVER gets mentioned).

And more states are using AI to detect these so-called "frauds" and automatically discontinue benefits (whether snap, unemployment, medicaid, whatever).

These are AI systems KNOWN to be subject to hallucinations."

A bit from Gemini (view with the skepticism you apply to all AI)

When AI systems are used to detect welfare or benefit errors, the term "hallucination" refers to algorithmic fabrications—where the system invents non-existent evidence, misinterprets data, or confuses honest administrative and paperwork mistakes with deliberate fraud.

These inaccuracies have severe real-world consequences for individuals and governments:

Misapplied Penalties: Algorithms often fail to distinguish between clerical errors and active deceit, punishing vulnerable groups for simple mistakes.

High False-Positive Rates: In many automated welfare systems, improper payments or "fraud" determinations have alarmingly high error rates.

For example, in previous automated systems, independent reviews determined that up to 93% of fraud determinations were incorrect.

Systemic Examples: Automated anti-fraud systems have caused massive financial and personal hardship, most notably in Australia’s unlawful "Robodebt" scheme and in widespread false accusations across the US, UK, and Europe.

Legal and Reputational Blowback: Using flawed AI systems can lead to legal action and required multi-billion dollar payouts from governments and major consulting firms. For instance, a court ordered the Dutch government to repay thousands of dollars to families falsely accused of child welfare fraud.

Experts continually stress that because these systems lack true contextual understanding, they require strict human-in-the-loop oversight to verify flags and prevent automated discrimination.

Unfortunately, these systems are being deployed in some states with no human review until the applicant/recipient makes contact. Someone who is likely eligible but has been automatically deprived of benefits. And who may be going hungry, going without medical care, being kicked out of a subsided rental, and on and on, WRONGFULLY.

It is beyond lunacy and must END.

[the nelm]

27. Geez, they want to really look at fraud in the United States? One doesn't have to look any further...

than 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

[joshdawg]

28. The only fraud

is infecting the White House.

[orangecrush]

29. This may not end well for them.

[FakeNoose]

30. Isn't it HIS FAULT that Americans have no jobs? Didn't he lay off thousands of people

... who had steady employment in the federal government, plus he caused private American companies to shut down or lay off their workers? He's the direct cause of most of the current employment in this country.

[bucolic_frolic]

31. I thought DOGE obliterated abuse long ago

Republicons label all social spending as waste, fraud, and abuse. No middle ground. They think SNAP recipients are buying booze, kitchen utensils, gasoline, and restaurant meals. But the UPC codes for those transactions are rejected at point of sale. Rethugs keep repeating the lies.

[johnnyfins]

33. The article quotes JD taking about

a billion dollars of Medicare fraud. Well if you do that you can get elected the Republican Senator from Florida! RIght Rick Scott?

[usonian]

34. Definition of fraud.

Anyone who disagrees with me.

It's another a dog whistle.

Every accusation is a confession.

[exboyfil]

35. The very watch system is inefficient

I had three meetings scheduled in the two weeks I collected unemployment (two scheduled at the same time). I continued to be required to attend meetings on my eligibility even after starting my current job ( I was no longer requesting benefits, and I clearly told them I wasn't applying anymore). They really got me angry when they contacted my current employer and forced them to take a meeting as well. I also did not like that I had to continue to apply for jobs in those two weeks even though I had an accepted offer (I thought it was applying in bad faith to these other potential employers). In context I had applied for at least 60 jobs in the eight weeks my WARN ran. Ironically the job I eventually took was the first one I applied to. I applied the same day I was notified I had "retired" from my former employer. I thought I did pretty well for a 60 year old engineer. God is good. I didn't have to move. Making 40% less money but better health benefits. I pray I never have to apply for unemployment again. I put in at least 40 hours a week while looking as well as do software training.

[multigraincracker]

36. Every accusation is a confession.

Every dam one of. Them.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

37. Do it piggy

Your party will be dead.

[Martin Eden]

42. Waste, Fraud, and Abuse describe what Donald Trump is doing with taxpayer dollars

Sonderling should go after him first.