Across the country, Americans are working harder and feeling like they are falling further behind. Groceries cost more. Health care costs more. Housing costs more. And too many families are left wondering why, after paying their taxes and playing by the rules, the system still doesn’t seem to work for them.

One of the chief reasons is fraud. Not the abstract kind buried in spreadsheets, but real fraud that drains taxpayer dollars, weakens essential programs, and erodes trust in government at every level. When fraud runs rampant, it makes everything more expensive, leaves people feeling cheated, and convinces too many Americans that elected officials are either unwilling or unable to protect the resources meant for them.

Republicans are pushing back against that reality. Across Congress and in statehouses, we are focused on protecting benefits for those who rely on them and safeguarding tax dollars for the people who earn them. Fighting fraud is not about cutting programs or punishing those in need. It is about ensuring that programs work as intended and that bad actors are held accountable.

Consider what happened under Gov. Tim Walz’s (D., Minn) watch, where investigators uncovered massive fraud perpetrated by a Somali fraud network that diverted hundreds of millions of dollars from public programs. Funds meant to support vulnerable families and children were instead siphoned off through fake invoices, sham operations, and blatant deception. The scale of the abuse shocked taxpayers and left many asking a simple question: how could this happen, and why did it go on for so long?

The answer points to a broader problem. Weak oversight and slow accountability invite abuse. When fraudsters believe no one is watching, they take advantage of systems designed to help people in need. That does real damage. It steals from the very communities those programs are supposed to serve and fuels cynicism among taxpayers who expect their money to be used responsibly.

The same dynamic plays out in our health care system. Medicaid and Medicare are lifelines for millions of Americans, especially seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families. But they are also prime targets for fraud. From billing for services that were never provided to inflating claims and manipulating eligibility rules, fraud in these programs costs taxpayers billions every year.

Those costs don’t stay on paper. They show up in higher premiums, tighter eligibility, and fewer resources for patients who genuinely need care. Families feel it when access becomes harder. Seniors feel it when trust in the system declines. And taxpayers feel it when they are asked to foot the bill for abuses they had no role in creating.

Republicans are working to stop this by strengthening program integrity without undermining access to care. That means better data sharing to catch suspicious billing early, tougher penalties for repeat offenders, and more coordination between federal and state authorities so fraud doesn’t slip through bureaucratic cracks. It also means standing up for honest providers who do the right thing and are just as frustrated by fraud as the families they serve.

While fraud tied to pandemic-era programs has received attention, the deeper issue predates COVID and extends far beyond it. Emergency programs may have exposed vulnerabilities, but the lesson is broader. Any large government program without strong guardrails is at risk. The solution is not to abandon those programs, but to manage them responsibly and transparently.

This is where trust comes in. Americans don’t just want services. They want fairness. They want to know that if they work hard and pay their taxes, the system won’t be gamed by those looking to cheat it. When fraud goes unchecked, it creates the perception that government protects insiders instead of citizens. That perception is devastating to public confidence and to our democracy.

Fighting fraud is one of the most direct ways to restore that trust. It shows respect for taxpayers. It protects benefits for those who truly need them. And it sends a clear message that no one is above the law.

At Republican Main Street Partnership, we believe governing means taking responsibility for outcomes, not just intentions. Protecting Americans’ benefits and tax dollars by rooting out fraud is part of that responsibility. It is how we help bring costs down, restore confidence in public institutions, and ensure that government works for the people it is meant to serve.

Sarah Chamberlain is the President and CEO of the Republican Main Street Partnership.