Trump Nominates Colin McDonald as First Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement

President Donald Trump has nominated federal prosecutor Colin McDonald to serve as the first-ever Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement, a newly created division within the Department of Justice aimed at combating widespread fraud schemes across the country.

McDonald, who currently serves as an associate deputy attorney general at the Justice Department, will lead efforts to investigate and prosecute fraud cases that the administration claims have cost American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars.

“My Administration has uncovered fraud schemes in states like Minnesota and California, where these thieves have stolen hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars,” Trump announced in a statement on Truth Social. The president praised McDonald as a “very smart, tough and highly respected America First federal prosecutor” with a proven track record in handling complex cases.

The creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division represents a significant expansion of the Justice Department’s focus on financial crimes and misuse of government funds. The move comes amid intensified scrutiny of alleged fraud in federal programs, particularly in Minnesota, where allegations of widespread misappropriation of public funds have triggered congressional investigations.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche expressed strong support for McDonald’s nomination, describing him as “instrumental” in the administration’s crime-reduction initiatives. “Colin is a rockstar, who was instrumental in our team’s mission of Making America Safe Again,” Blanche wrote on X. “He is a consummate prosecutor who loves God, family, and country and will serve the President and the American people well.”

Vice President JD Vance initially announced the creation of the new division and position during a White House press briefing earlier this month. The announcement was part of a broader initiative to address what the administration describes as systemic fraud in various federal programs across multiple states.

“Colin McDonald is widely regarded as a thorough and highly competent attorney. He has an exceptional prosecutorial track record, which we look forward to seeing him put to use in his new role as Assistant Attorney General,” Vance stated at the time, previewing McDonald’s formal nomination.

The establishment of this specialized division signals a strategic shift in how the federal government approaches fraud detection and prosecution. While the Justice Department has always maintained units dedicated to various types of fraud, the creation of an assistant attorney general position specifically focused on fraud enforcement elevates these efforts to a more prominent level within the department’s hierarchy.

Financial fraud and misuse of government funds have long been concerns across administrations, but the Trump administration has made combating these issues a centerpiece of its government efficiency platform. The administration has specifically highlighted concerns about fraud in Minnesota and California, though detailed evidence of the alleged “hundreds of billions” in fraud has not been fully presented to the public.

The House Oversight Committee has already begun widening its investigation into alleged fraud in Minnesota’s public assistance programs, signaling congressional interest in these issues will likely complement the Justice Department’s new enforcement division.

McDonald’s nomination will now proceed to the Senate for confirmation, where his prosecutorial background and approach to fraud enforcement will face scrutiny from lawmakers. If confirmed, he will face the challenge of building a new division while demonstrating measurable results in fraud reduction across federal programs.

“Together, we will END THE FRAUD, and RESTORE INTEGRITY to our Federal Programs,” Trump concluded in his announcement, emphasizing the administration’s intent to make government program integrity a priority in its second term.