Vice President JD Vance delivered a forceful speech in Plover, Wisconsin, on February 26, 2026, emphasizing the government’s responsibility to secure the nation’s borders while combating fraud. Vance stated, “The job of your government is not to open your borders, and allow fraudsters to come in and take advantage of you. The job of your government is to shut the border and shut off the fraud.”

His remarks align with President Trump’s recent State of the Union announcement of a “war on fraud” initiative, which Vance now leads. The initiative focuses on addressing an estimated $100 billion in annual welfare fraud, including Medicaid misuse by undocumented immigrants. Initial enforcement actions, announced alongside HHS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, include withholding federal funds from states such as Minnesota that fail to implement stricter fraud prevention measures. Vance’s address underscores a coordinated approach to border security and financial integrity within federal programs.