According to The Post Millennial, Vice President JD Vance announced in Kansas City, Missouri, that about 870,000 people suspected of defrauding COVID‑19 programs have been permanently barred from future federal loans.
What Vance said (per The Post Millennial)
“We are going to suspend 870,000 people permanently. People who defrauded the government over the last couple of years, last couple of decades. We’re going to make it impossible for them to get loans from the federal government,” Vance said at a press conference in Kansas City, per The Post Millennial. He also said, “If you screwed the American taxpayer, the federal government is now going to say you’re cut off, no more,” and advised would‑be scammers: “Don’t do it. Go and get a job instead.”
Enforcement surge cited
The source article states the announcement coincided with the Justice Department’s “Heartland fraud surge,” described as a nationwide push from mid‑June through early September. It attributes to the DOJ more than 160 defendants charged, about $245 million in intended taxpayer losses targeted, and dozens of guilty pleas during that period. We have not independently verified the surge or these figures.
Scope and SBA numbers—if confirmed
The same source attributes to “SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler” that the 870,000 suspensions correspond to an estimated $39 billion in suspected fraud across 45 states, with earlier actions bringing the total flagged to roughly $49 billion, and $22 billion referred to the U.S. Treasury for collections this summer. These titles and figures require verification.
Background the source cites
The article claims Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) in March 2020 and lenders issued about 11.8 million loans. It further cites the SBA inspector general as estimating that more than $200 billion may have been fraudulent. A Government Accountability Office report from March 2025 is summarized as finding that about two million of nearly three million pandemic‑fraud referrals had incomplete or duplicative data, and that automated screening tools were not activated until January 2021, after more than $525 billion had been disbursed. These points should be independently checked.
Prosecutors and a new data center—per the source
The article attributes to “Attorney General Todd Blanche” that prosecutors have new funding and personnel, with 500 prosecutors dedicated to fraud enforcement and a newly created National Fraud Detection Center intended to break down data silos. It also attributes to “Deputy Attorney General Colin McDonald” that there have been more than 1,200 major fraud actions in 160 days, including the quote: “The American people demand it… They demand that we take it personally when someone decides to steal from the United States of America.” These names, roles, and numbers have not been independently verified.
Examples the source lists
The source cites a case in the Western District of Missouri in which Jamie Gray was charged in an alleged $56 million money‑laundering scheme tied to fabricated businesses, including one called “Fur Lives Matter,” which prosecutors reportedly say had no connection to Gray. It also cites an Iowa case involving two defendants facing 47 counts tied to 470 fraudulent applications and describes both as fugitives. These case details require verification with court records.
What the source says is next
The article states that Congress extended the statute of limitations for pandemic fraud to 10 years, projecting prosecutorial runway through 2030 or 2031, and that Vance is personally chairing a government‑wide fraud task force. These claims should be confirmed.
Open questions
- What is the legal authority and process for permanently barring suspected (versus convicted) individuals from federal loans?
- Which programs are covered by the ban, and what notice or appeal rights exist?
- Who precisely is on the 870,000‑person list, and how were they identified?
- Are the named officials and quoted figures accurately attributed and current in their roles?
Sources cited by the article: The Post Millennial and CBS News. Independent verification is pending.
