President Donald Trump on Wednesday named veteran federal prosecutor Colin McDonald to head the Justice Department’s new National Fraud Enforcement Division, a role created to aggressively target large-scale fraud draining federal programs. In other words, someone is finally being hired to guard the cookie jar.
Trump announced the nomination on Truth Social, calling McDonald a “tough, smart, and highly respected America First federal prosecutor” and making clear the mission is to stop what his administration says is massive theft of taxpayer money.
“My Administration has uncovered Fraud schemes in States like Minnesota and California, where these thieves have stolen Hundreds of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars,” Trump wrote.
“Colin McDonald is a very Smart, Tough, and Highly Respected AMERICA FIRST Federal Prosecutor who has successfully delivered Justice in some of the most difficult and high-stakes cases our Country has ever seen.
Together, we will END THE FRAUD, and RESTORE INTEGRITY to our Federal Programs.”
Trump added, “Congratulations Colin — STOP THE SCAMS!” because subtlety is overrated when fraud is involved.
McDonald has served as an associate deputy attorney general and federal prosecutor in Southern California and Hawaii since 2014. His record includes winning convictions in a high-profile corruption case against former Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha, his wife, and two officers. In that case, the defendants were found guilty of framing a relative to cover up the theft of $148,000, which was then spent on luxury cars, vacations, and other pricey items — apparently crime doesn’t pay, at least not in court.
Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Pam Bondi praised McDonald’s leadership and prosecutorial skills, saying his experience makes him well suited to dismantle fraud networks and recover stolen funds. Former Southern California U.S. Attorney Robert Brewer, who supervised McDonald during Trump’s first term, called him a “fearless, strong, and ethical prosecutor” and said McDonald was invaluable in resolving a difficult public corruption case in Hawaii.
“Mr. McDonald is exceedingly bright, dedicated, and a great leader,” Brewer said, adding that the American people can trust his judgment and ethics.
The Senate must confirm McDonald’s nomination. While details about the exact authority of the new enforcement unit are still being finalized, the administration says the division will lead nationwide efforts to track down fraud and reclaim stolen taxpayer dollars.
With a seasoned prosecutor at the helm and a clear mandate to clean house, the message is simple: the scams are on notice, accountability is back, and protecting taxpayer money is once again a top priority.
