Ranking Member Markey Slams Trump Administration’s Hypocrisy on Partisan Fraud Enforcement

Summary

A press release from the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, dated February 25, 2026, reports remarks by Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) at a committee hearing titled From Fraud to Recovery: Restoring Integrity in Small Business Programs. Markey accused the Trump administration of partisan fraud enforcement, citing its actions in Minnesota and Massachusetts, and called for independent and equitable oversight. The release says he pointed to pardons of convicted fraudsters, billion-dollar contracts and the use of office to enrich the President's family as fraud the administration ignored or enabled. It quotes him: “Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue.” He closed by recommitting to bipartisan legislation that tackles fraud fairly.

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# Ranking Member Markey Slams Trump Administration’s Hypocrisy on Partisan Fraud Enforcement

#### February 25 , 2026

RM Markey: “Trump is paying tribute to fraud, when ‘fraud’ is a great way to describe his entire administration.”

(Washington, February 25) – Ranking Member Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today condemned the Trump administration’s brazenly partisan fraud enforcement activities at a Small Business Committee hearing titled “ From Fraud to Recovery: Restoring Integrity in Small Business Programs .” At the hearing, Ranking Member Markey emphasized the Trump administration’s weaponization of fraud while demanding that President Trump and his corrupt administration be held accountable for their own fraudulent activities.

“Last night, President Trump declared a so-called ‘War on Fraud.’ While fraud must be taken seriously and fraudsters must be held accountable, the Trump administration’s abuses in Minnesota and other Democratic-led states like my home state of Massachusetts demonstrate exactly why we need real independent and equitable oversight at all levels of government,” said Ranking Member Markey . “Hypocrisy is the tribute that vice pays to virtue. Donald Trump is paying tribute to fraud, when ‘fraud’ is a great way to describe his entire administration.”

At the hearing, Ranking Member Markey highlighted several instances of fraud that the Trump administration has ignored or enabled in favor of partisan, political attacks on limited instances of fraud in Democratic-led states, such as Trump using executive power to pardon convicted fraudsters , doling out billion-dollar contracts to his cronies, and using the power of his office to enrich his own family .

Ranking Member Markey concluded the hearing by recommitting to passing legislation that tackles fraud fairly and includes other important priorities that impact small businesses as part of a comprehensive, bipartisan package.

Permalink: https://www.sbc.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2026/2/ranking-member-markey-slams-trump-administration-s-hypocrisy-on-partisan-fraud-enforcement

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