Newsroom

The War on Fraud

President Donald Trump has declared a “war on fraud,” and it’s a fight that matters now more than ever. Washington is finally waking up to something Mississippians have understood for a long time: when government overspends, taxpayers pay the price.

The Trump administration has taken meaningful steps to root out waste and abuse, but this can’t just be a federal effort. Every state, every agency, and every public official has a responsibility to protect the people they serve.

As State Treasurer, I manage the cash flow that keeps Mississippi running day to day. That means making smart, conservative investment decisions. We’ve done well on this front, generating more than $1 billion in interest during my tenure to ease the taxpayer burden. But wherever there is money, there is risk. Fraud doesn’t just cost dollars; it erodes trust.

That’s why we’ve taken a hard look at how we protect Mississippians, especially when it comes to unclaimed money. To date, we’ve returned more than $170 million, more than all previous Mississippi Treasurers – combined. But returning that money is only half the job. Making sure it gets into the right hands quickly is just as important.

About a year ago, we implemented an American citizen verification on our unclaimed money system, a first-in-the-nation step to ensure we are identifying rightful owners and prioritizing Americans. It’s a commonsense safeguard that builds on the rigorous checks we already have in place.

And let’s be honest about why that matters. In recent years, millions of illegal immigrants have crossed our southern border, embedded in communities across the country, and transformed every state into a border state. That reality forces policymakers at every level to take a hard look at how we prioritize citizens and protect taxpayer-funded resources. Our responsibility is to Mississippians first. That’s not controversial; it’s common sense.

Recently, Congress held an oversight hearing on fraud and pointed to Mississippi’s work as a model. That recognition is appreciated, but more importantly, it proves that strong, conservative governance delivers real results.

We’re now seeing that approach take hold in Washington. The U.S. Treasury is exploring citizenship verification for banking services, a move that mirrors the safeguards we’ve already put in place in Mississippi’s unclaimed money program.

As your Treasurer, I’ll keep doing what we’ve done from day one: root out fraud, cut waste, and protect taxpayer dollars – with Mississippi citizens always coming first.