Here is the reformatted article.
Vance Hosts Anti-Fraud Roundtable; 24 Democratic AGs Decline Invitation
U.S. Vice President JD Vance held a press conference on May 13, 2026, to discuss "anti-fraud initiatives" in the Indian Treaty Room at the White House complex in Washington, D.C.
The event was marked by a significant partisan divide regarding attendance and notice.
Democratic AGs Cite Insufficient Notice
Twenty-four Democratic state attorneys general declined an invitation to attend the roundtable. In a letter dated Tuesday, they stated they "respectfully decline to attend at this time," citing insufficient notice.
- Key complaint: The invitations were received on Friday—days after Republican counterparts were asked—providing less than one business day's notice and no agenda.
- The letter stated: The short notice "does not match the spirit of collaboration."
- Notable absence: Among those declining was Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. Minnesota has been specifically targeted by Trump administration actions over alleged Medicaid fraud schemes involving day care centers.
"Everybody should care about fraud... Everybody should care about saving the American taxpayers money." — Vice President JD Vance
Administration Efforts & Attendance
Despite the boycott, Vice President Vance emphasized the bipartisan nature of combating fraud.
- The Vice President stated: "This should not be a partisan effort."
- Democratic representation: While the attorneys general declined, representatives from multiple Democratic offices (chiefs of staff or principal deputy attorneys general) did attend. Vance specifically noted the presence of representatives from Connecticut and Oregon.
- Republican attendance: As of Monday, 16 Republican attorneys general had confirmed their attendance.
Counter-Programming
Some Democratic attorneys general scheduled a press conference about the situation for 4:15 p.m. ET on Tuesday—roughly two hours after the roundtable began.
Details of the Invitation Process
A source familiar with the event revealed that the roundtable was originally planned only for Republican attorneys general. However, Vice President Vance personally insisted it would be a "shame" if Democrats did not participate, leading to the last-minute invitations.
Fraud Prevention Statistics
Vice President Vance touted the administration’s fraud prevention efforts, including:
- Exposing billions in stolen benefits.
- Referring over $22 billion in fraudulent small business loans for collection.
- Deferring over $1.3 billion in fraudulent Medicaid reimbursements.
- Placing a six-month hold on new hospice and home health care provider enrollments due to fraud concerns.
Official Statements
- The Democratic AGs' letter expressed their commitment to stopping fraud, waste, and abuse, and their dedication to ensuring the social safety net operates with integrity and efficiency.
- The White House declined to comment on the letter.
Participating Officials
The event featured several key figures, including:
- FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson (vice chair of the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud)
- White House advisor Stephen Miller
- 16 Republican attorneys general
President Donald Trump appointed Vance as chairman of the new Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in March.