Sen. Rick Scott Urges VP Vance's Anti-Fraud Task Force to Investigate California...

Sen. Rick Scott Urges VP Vance’s Anti-Fraud Task Force to Investigate California’s Use of Federal Funds for Wildfires

March 11, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott sent a letter urging Vice President JD Vance to use the administration’s new anti-fraud task force to investigate California’s use of federal taxpayer dollars intended for wildfire prevention and recovery.

Senator Scott has championed transparency and accountability for victims of the Palisades Fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. He and Senator Ron Johnson, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs’ Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, have visited the Palisades firsthand, written to federal agencies, held investigative meetings, requested government documents and reports, and hosted hearings as part of an investigation to amplify victims’ voices, demand answers, ensure Americans’ tax dollars are being used responsibly, and make sure the mistakes that led to this tragedy do not happen again.

*Read Senator Scott’s letter to Vice President Vance *

HEREor below:

Dear Vice President Vance:

As President Trump made clear in his State of the Union address, the levels of waste, fraud, and abuse being exposed in Democrat-run states like Minnesota and California are appalling. Even worse, under Joe Biden’s failed leadership, this was normalized in a system that too often traded transparency and accountability for what benefited the far-left’s latest passion projects. The result was hardworking American taxpayers being cheated out of billions of dollars and losing all trust in their federal government to put them first.

That changed on President Trump’s first day in office when the reckless waste, fraud, and abuse met its match. The Trump administration has been laser-focused on spending American tax dollars wisely and restoring accountability and fiscal responsibility to our government at every level. As you know from our time serving together in the United States Senate, I am a proud partner in this mission. I know you share this commitment, and I was glad that President Trump put you in charge of the newly created anti-fraud task force, establishing much-needed oversight as to how federal tax dollars are being spent.

This accountability and oversight are needed urgently in California. Despite receiving billions in federal taxpayer dollars for wildfire mitigation, California continues to experience historic wildfires, including the devastating Pacific Palisades Fire last January. After visiting the Pacific Palisades last year and seeing the damage and hearing from victims firsthand, Senator Ron Johnson, Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs’ Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and I were shocked by the failures of California’s state and local officials to prepare and combat the fire, keep residents safe, and aid in their recovery. As a result, we immediately began an investigation.

That fire killed twelve people, destroyed thousands of homes, and devastated countless families and their communities. Today, victims, Californians, and the American people still have little to no answers. The American people deserve to know whether federal funds were appropriately and for their intended purpose, and if not, the extent to which any fraud, waste, and abuse affected public officials' ability to keep people safe that day and facilitate a quick recovery.

For this reason, I sent letters to multiple agencies, including the DOJ, DHS, USDA, DOI, and DOT, requesting information on how much federal taxpayer money has been sent to California for fire prevention and recovery efforts over the last decade. I also met with Attorney General Pam Bondi to emphasize the importance of a thorough review of how California used disaster funding, so victims receive the answers they deserve. I am grateful to see that under President Trump’s leadership, these agencies are taking this seriously, and I know you will too.

President Trump has already taken action to help the fire victims by intervening where state and local governments failed, ensuring proper oversight of federal funds, and preventing regulatory roadblocks from impeding Californians’ recovery. As I wrote to several Cabinet members last year, California has “received seemingly endless flows of federal funds” related to wildfires that “do not appear to have been used wisely,” so this enhanced oversight is needed to make sure federal aid is disbursed effectively and efficiently.

As the federal government seeks to play a role in preventing the next wildfire and the Federal Emergency Management Agency steps in to help victims, we must ensure that every tax dollar is spent appropriately and is accounted for. For the sake of American taxpayers and the victims, I urge you to examine past federal spending and ensure accountability in California’s rebuilding and future wildfire prevention efforts.

President Trump has restored trust in our federal government again, and your task force has a real opportunity to build on this work by sending a clear message to failed state and local politicians: waste, fraud, and abuse are no longer acceptable in California or anywhere across our great country.

Read the California Post’s coverage of the letter and Senator Scott and Chairman Johnson’s investigation HERE.

More on the work Senator Scott and Chairman Johnson have done to bring transparency and accountability for victims of the Palisades Fire and the American taxpayer below:

08/20/25:Sen. Rick Scott on X –Meeting with Spencer Pratt on the Ground08/22/25:Sen. Rick Scott Thanks AG Bondi for Helping Victims and Requests Briefing on California Wildfire Investigation08/26/25:Sen. Rick Scott to DHS: We Must Review CA Disaster Funding After State and Local Botched Response to Wildfires08/28/25:Sen. Rick Scott to USDA: We Must Review CA Disaster Funding After State and Local Botched Response to Wildfires09/03/25:Sen. Rick Scott in Letter to DOI: We Must Review CA Disaster Funding After State and Local Botched Response to Wildfires09/08/25:Chairmen Rick Scott and Ron Johnson Announce Congressional Investigation of Deadly California Wildfire09/09/25:Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Legislation to Provide Tax Relief for Victims of Hurricanes, Wildfires, & Other Natural Disasters09/12/25:VIDEO RELEASE: Sens. Rick Scott, Ron Johnson: ‘We’re Going to Get to the Bottom of What Happened’ with Palisades Wildfire09/15/25:Sen. Rick Scott’s Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act to Support Victims of Natural Disasters Gains Bipartisan Support09/17/25:Sen. Rick Scott, Chair Ron Johnson Request Records from LAFD for Congressional Investigation into Pacific Palisades Wildfire09/26/25:Sen. Rick Scott in Letter to DOT: We Must Review CA Disaster Funding After State and Local Botched Response to Wildfires09/29/25:Sen. Rick Scott on X -Meeting with AG Pam Bondion investigation10/03/25:Sen. Rick Scott, Chair Ron Johnson Request Records from LADWP for Congressional Investigation into Pacific Palisades Wildfire10/08/25:Sen. Rick Scott on X –Statement on the arrest of individual regarding Palisades fire10/10/25:Sen. Rick Scott, Chair Ron Johnson Request Records from Mayor of LA for Congressional Investigation into Pacific Palisades Wildfire10/16/25:Sen. Rick Scott Asks Treasury Sec. Bessent to Review China’s Land Grab in Fire-Ravaged California10/20/25:Sen. Rick Scott, Chair Ron Johnson Send Letter to LA City Council President Requesting Records into Pacific Palisades Wildfire, City’s Efforts to Redevelop Affected Areas11/12/25:Sen. Rick Scott, Chair Ron Johnson Pen Letter to California Parks and Rec Director Ahead of Field Hearing on Pacific Palisades Wildfires11/13/25:HEARING:Forgotten After the Flames: Stories from the Palisades Fire11/13/25:Chairmen Rick Scott, Ron Johnson Lead Field Hearing in California on Palisades Fire; Examining Impact on Seniors and Survivors’ Ongoing Recovery Efforts12/03/25:As Sen. Rick Scott Leads Congressional Investigation into California’s Response to Palisades Wildfire and Use of Tax Dollars, Gov. Newsom Visits DC Asking for More01/07/26:Sen. Rick Scott: One Year After the Palisades Fire, Residents Still Await Accountability and Answers01/28/26:HEARING:One Year After Disaster: Experts Weigh In On the Palisades Fire02/04/26:Sen. Rick Scott on X -Calls out Karen Bass on manipulated fire report