Michigan Health Department Accused of Prioritizing DEI Over $14 Million Food Stamp Fraud in 2024

LANSING, MI – The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) allegedly failed to prioritize efforts to combat $14 million in fraudulent food stamp claims discovered in 2024, instead doubling down on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This claim, highlighted in a tweet by journalist Dave Bondy, stems from a report by Michigan Capitol Confidential, which stated, "When the state health department discovered that it had paid $14 million in fraudulent food stamp claims in 2024, the department didn’t make stopping fraud a priority."

According to the report, the MDHHS continued its "whole-of-organization approach" to increase DEI, even as a White House order in January directed a halt to DEI programs using federal money. This alleged focus on DEI occurred despite the significant financial losses to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. The department, which serves 1.4 million people with electronic benefit transfers, has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.

A significant factor contributing to the fraud was the MDHHS's delay in upgrading its Bridge food stamp cards for over a decade. This delay reportedly attracted criminal networks that utilized skimming devices at public places to steal card data, depleting funds before recipients could use them. In 2024 alone, the department mailed over 269,000 replacement Bridge cards, averaging 738 daily, due to such thefts.

In response to the escalating fraud, State Representative Jason Woolford introduced a reform bill, which has since been enacted, mandating the upgrade of Bridge cards to more secure chip technology starting January 1. Payments caused by fraud in Michigan’s food stamp program surged by 387% from fiscal year 2023 to 2024. Nationally, SNAP fraud has been a growing concern, with other states like New York and Ohio also reporting millions in stolen benefits during 2024, and federal reimbursements for stolen benefits having ended.