Donald Trump will sign an executive order in the coming days to create a new federal task force focused on investigating alleged abuses and fraud in social welfare programs, with special attention to California and other states governed by Democrats

According to CBS News, the group will be led by Vice President JD Vance, a sign of the political priority that the White House wants to give to the initiative. Andrew Ferguson, a federal official in charge of consumer protection, will be second in command, while Colin McDonald, nominated by Trump for a new fraud investigator position at the Department of Justice, will also participate in the investigation. The executive order is expected to be signed before the end of the month, although the timeline could change, according to sources. However, it is noteworthy that the new team will focus on California, a state governed by Democrat Gavin Newsom, one of the Trump Administration's main critics and considered a possible presidential candidate in 2028. Thus, the initiative represents a new clash between the White House and state governments led by Democrats. Data contradicts the focus on immigrants. Although California and other states have detected billions of dollars in fraud, especially in unemployment, pandemic relief, and healthcare, recent studies contradict the idea that immigrants are primarily responsible. A report from the Institute Cato revealed that between 2013 and 2024, U.S. citizens were responsible for 95% of the $5.5 billion in losses from social program fraud, while non-citizens accounted for only 4.6%. Furthermore, immigrants defrauded 31% less than U.S. citizens, according to data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission.Governor Newsom has defended California's active investigations into fraud, noting that state auditors have identified irregularities amounting to millions of dollars, while prevention mechanisms have been strengthened. The creation of the new task force promises to intensify the political debate on fraud, social spending, and the role of the federal government—a topic of great interest to the Hispanic community in the United States, especially in states with large immigrant populations like California.