# Vance Accuses Biden Team of Ignoring COVID Fraud 'Open Secret'

- URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/vance-accuses-biden-team-of-ignoring-covid-fraud-open-secret
- Published: 2026-09-15T13:09:12.928530+00:00
- Topics: covid-19-fraud, ppp-loans, sba, jd-vance, doj

## What the left says
- The enforcement action itself is a bipartisan, multi-agency effort involving 44 U.S. Attorney's Offices that began under prior policy frameworks, suggesting fraud detection systems were already in motion rather than newly discovered.
- Attributing blame to the Biden administration for 'turning a blind eye' requires evidence beyond Vance's personal recollection of conversations with a state official, and no specific officials have yet been named or charged with negligence.
- PPP and EIDL programs were designed for rapid disbursement during a national emergency, and fraud commonly accompanies large emergency spending programs regardless of which administration oversees them.
- The focus on past-administration blame risks becoming a political talking point rather than a genuine policy fix, especially without concrete plans to prevent similar fraud in future emergency programs.

## What the right says
- Vance's comments highlight a legitimate concern that officials knowingly allowed widespread fraud to continue without adequate oversight, citing firsthand accounts from state officials like John Husted who were reportedly frustrated by federal inaction.
- The scale of suspected fraud, an estimated $39 billion tied to 870,000 borrowers and up to $200 billion across pandemic programs broadly, justifies calling for accountability from those who managed these programs.
- The administration frames this as restoring taxpayer trust, arguing that permanently barring fraudulent borrowers from future federal loans sends a clear deterrent message.
- Announcing 'Operation No Doze' and coordinated action across dozens of federal and state agencies demonstrates a serious, systematic follow-through on rooting out fraud rather than mere rhetoric.

## Common ground
- The SBA is suspending roughly 870,000 borrowers suspected of COVID-era fraud from receiving future federal loans.
- The suspected fraud totals approximately $39 billion tied to Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan programs.
- The Justice Department's 'Heartland fraud surge' operation ran from June 12 through September 1 and resulted in charges against more than 80 individuals tied to about $245 million in intended losses.
- Both sides agree that pandemic-era loan programs experienced substantial fraud that merits investigation and enforcement.

## Sources
- [PJ Media](https://pjmedia.com/david-manney/2026/09/14/washington-found-870000-suspect-borrowers-what-took-so-long-n4957242) (Unknown)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/vance-todd-blanche-felony-fraud-cases-covid-era-loan-programs/) (Lean Left)
- [Daily Caller](https://dailycaller.com/2026/09/14/trump-vance-biden-fraud-covid-pandemic-sba) (Right)
- [Daily Wire](https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-live-remember-all-that-covid-cash-feds-just-came-knocking) (Right)
- [Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion](https://legalinsurrection.com/2026/09/vance-over-870000-alleged-covid-fraudsters-banned-from-federal-loans/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=vance-over-870000-alleged-covid-fraudsters-banned-from-federal-loans) (Unknown)
- [Newsmax](https://www.newsmax.com/politics/jd-vance-covid-funds/2026/09/14/id/1269411) (Right)
- [RedState](https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2026/09/14/vance-slams-biden-era-open-secret-as-feds-suspend-870000-suspected-covid-scammers-n2206912) (Unknown)
- [Washington Times](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/14/feds-ban-870000-suspected-pandemic-fraudsters-getting-future/) (Right)
- [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/vance-says-those-suspected-of-defrauding-covid-era-programs-barred-from-future-federal-loans/) (Lean Left)

---
Content by TwoTakes (https://twotakes.us). You may quote, summarize and cite it, including in AI answers, as long as you credit TwoTakes and link the story URL. Original reporting belongs to the linked outlets. Summaries are AI-assisted and reviewed for balance; check the original sources for authoritative reporting.