EPA’s internal watchdog is partnering with a collective of government investigators to fight fraud.
EPA’s Office of Inspector General announced Thursday that it has joined the Trade Fraud Task Force. The group, launched by the Justice and Homeland Security departments, targets trade law breaches, such as evading tariffs and mislabeling goods. It also looks at health and safety violations.
Earlier this year, the White House launched its fraud initiative, which has gone after fraudulent Medicaid payments, improper government loans and abuse of disaster relief funds. As part of this task force, the EPA inspector general office will dig into fraud schemes revolving around water infrastructure, pesticides, chemicals and other products regulated by the agency.
“Trade fraud threatens public safety, hurts honest businesses, and puts taxpayer dollars at risk,” Deputy EPA Inspector General Nicole Murley, leading the watchdog office on an acting basis, said in a video message. “Together, we are strengthening our collective ability to detect fraud, disrupt criminal networks, and protect taxpayers and their hard-earned dollars.”
