Deploys Joint Strike Team to New York — Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, July 13, 2026

Summary

This is a July 13, 2026 press release from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, announcing the deployment of a joint federal Strike Team to the State of New York to confront serious unemployment-insurance fraud and performance breakdowns. Inspector General Anthony P. D'Esposito is quoted. The release states that New York ranks among the worst states for unemployment insurance fraud exposure, contributing to more than $750 million in improper UI payments and accounting for $507 million in fraudulent payments in calendar year 2025. It says the Strike Team will conduct targeted reviews, support data-analytics operations, coordinate with federal and state partners, and pursue civil and criminal investigations into suspected fraud networks.

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Press Releases

U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General Deploys Joint Strike Team to New York, Crushing Rampant Unemployment Insurance Fraud

July 13, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and its Office of Inspector General (OIG) today announced the deployment of a joint federal Strike Team to the State of New York, intensifying coordinated efforts to confront serious unemployment‑insurance (UI) fraud and performance breakdowns across one of the nation’s highest‑risk states. The deployment builds on ongoing collaboration between DOL program offices and OIG investigators to root out fraud, restore accountability, and protect American workers and taxpayers.

“New York is stealing from the American people every single day—draining their hard-earned tax dollars through rampant unemployment insurance fraud and improper payments,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor. “In partnership with Acting Secretary Keith Sonderling, we are taking a tough-on-crime approach to dismantle this fraud, hunt down every stolen dollar, and prosecute those responsible. Backed by the full strength of President Trump and Vice President Vance’s Fraud Task Force and our coordinated OIG and Departmental efforts, our joint federal Strike Team will deliver the swi f t justice that hard working Americans deserve. Accountability is not an option.”

New York ranks among the worst states for unemployment insurance (UI) fraud exposure, contributing to more than $750 million in improper UI payments and accounting for $507 million in fraudulent payments in calendar year 2025. New York alone loses nearly $2 million per day to fraud and improper payments.

To combat these threats, OIG investigators will work side-by-side with DOL Strike Team members to identify, stop, and recover fraudulent payments before taxpayer dollars are lost. The DOL-OIG Strike Team will conduct targeted reviews, support data-analytics operations, coordinate with federal and state partners, and pursue civil and criminal investigations into suspected fraud networks.

This work aligns with national recovery efforts led by President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance’s White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, which has already helped recover hundreds of millions in fraudulent UI funds and strengthened program integrity across multiple states.

For additional information on DOL OIG, please visit oig.dol.gov . If you suspect wrongdoing
involving DOL programs or operations, contact the DOL-OIG Hotline at (800) 347-3756 or oig.dol.gov/hotlinecontact.htm .

Download Press Release .

For Media Inquiries:

Stone.Olivia@oig.dol.gov

(202) 693-7100

Follow Us:

X: @DOLOIG

Instagram: @usdoloig

Facebook: @usdoloig

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