The Trump administration says it is creating a new division at the Department of Justice to crack down on what the White House calls "rampant and pervasive" fraud across the U.S. CBS News reporter Andres Gutierrez has more.

Washington

The Trump administration has announced the creation of a new Justice Department unit aimed at tackling fraud in Medicaid and Medicare programs, particularly in states such as California and Minnesota. Officials cite a significant increase in questionable billing, especially in Los Angeles County, as evidence of widespread abuse that diverts funds from legitimate health care recipients.

The new unit will consist of federal prosecutors, FBI agents, and health care investigators tasked with identifying and shutting down major scams. The administration has also frozen funds in certain states pending audits, prompting legal challenges from those states, which allege the move is unconstitutional. The goal of the initiative is to redirect funds from fraudulent actors to legitimate health care providers and patients.

Trump administration creating new Justice Department division to tackle fraud

Good evening, Juliet. Those are officials are arguing that in places like California and in Minnesota, there are criminals who are exploiting the Medicaid and Medicare systems and taking billions out of the system. Their prime example is right here in Los Angeles County. According to them, hospice care here has exploded up seven times, and they say that almost one out of every five home health bills in the whole country now comes from L.A. County. To them, that's not normal. It's a sign that there are people who aren't dying or who are barely being treated, who are being used so scammers can build the government. No one is guarding the hen house. No one is making sure the money is actually being used where it's intended to use. And not only do the fraudsters benefit, but the real people who need the money are losing. People who actually need access to quality health care are losing because they can't get health care. And it's why the administration is establishing that new fraud unit and freezing funds in those states that you mentioned off the top there, Juliet, while auditors end up going line by line to see how that money is being used. Those states in turn, though, are suing the Trump administration, calling the move an unconstitutional abuse of power. But they insist that the goal is to pull back dollars from those scammers and push them towards real doctors, hospitals and patients. Yeah, we've seen the Trump administration take aim at Minnesota over fraud schemes in the state. But today, officials implied that they'll be taking a closer look at other states as well. So how exactly would this agency work to identify fraud? Yes, so officials are describing this new unit over at the Justice Department as essentially a national fraud cleanup crew. It is made up of federal prosecutors, FBI agents and health care investigators whose job is to find the biggest scams and shut them down. They're starting by following the money. They'll be looking through Medicare and Medicaid bills for things that just don't make sense. Hospice companies where almost no one dies, clinics where nearly every patient is on Medicare or areas where the medical billing suddenly explodes for no reason. And when they see those red flags, they could zero in, show up in person. And if the evidence is there, they can bring about federal charges or even pursue civil cases to get back that money in front and shut down the fraud. Juliet.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned on Saturday that safeguarding security was a "red line" and the military vowed to protect public property, as the clerical establishment stepped up efforts to quell the most widespread protests in years.

Tehran

Iran authorities signal intensified crackdown as unrest grows

Luigi Mangione was back in court on Friday, where his lawyers worked to block the Justice Department from seeking the death penalty in his federal trial for the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione pleaded not guilty in April 2025.

New York

Luigi Mangione's lawyers fight to block death penalty

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Victoria

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Minneapolis

Several arrested in Minneapolis during anti-ICE protest

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Nuuk

Trump says U.S. will act on Greenland, 'whether they like it or not'

U.S. President Donald Trump began a meeting to discuss Venezuela with executives from some of the world's largest oil companies at the White House, saying he wants them to invest $100 billion in the country to vastly expand its production.

Venezuela Strikes

Trump urges U.S. oil giants to repair Venezuela's energy industry

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U.S. seizes fifth tanker linked to Venezuela

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Trump: U.S. to hit Iran 'very hard' if violence continues at protests

Russia fired a powerful hypersonic missile overnight at a target in Ukraine near the border with NATO-member Poland, in what Kyiv's European allies described as an attempt to intimidate them from supporting Ukraine.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia fires hypersonic missile at Ukraine target near NATO border

A majority of European Union countries have agreed to sign a trade deal with the South American trading bloc, Mercosur. It'll be the EU's biggest free-trade pact and comes after decades of negotiations.

Brussels

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The Trump administration is pulling the U.S. out of dozens of international organizations, including key UN agencies and the treaty underpinning global climate talks, marking a deepening retreat from multilateral cooperation.

Trump admin. withdraws from dozens of international organizations

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Cúcuta

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Residents in Portland, Oregon, protested Thursday after officials say two people were shot by Border Patrol agents. Gwen Baumgardner has more on how the shooting unfolded.

Portland

Two shot by border patrol agents in Portland

Russia launched a massive attack in Ukraine using drones and missiles, including a nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile. Michael Bociurkiw, nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center, joins CBS News with more.

Odesa

Russia strikes Ukraine with hypersonic missile

Four crew members aboard the International Space Station will be brought home more than a month early in the coming days as NASA cuts its mission short due to health concerns.

NASA cutting current International Space Station mission short

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The U.S. Senate advanced a resolution that would bar President Donald Trump from further military action against Venezuela without congressional authorization, a rare rebuke of the Republican leader.

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U.S. officials have discussed sending lump sum payments to Greenlanders as part of a bid to convince them to secede from Denmark and potentially join the United States, according to four sources familiar with the matter.

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Iran’s connectivity drops sharply nationwide – As authorities tighten controls amid growing protests over the economy. NetBlocks says the apparent blackout follows ‘a series of escalating digital censorship measures targeting protests’.

Iran experiencing nationwide internet blackout as protests intensify

The Senate on Thursday voted to advance a resolution that could limit President Trump's ability to continue military action in Venezuela without congressional approval. It comes as the president told the New York Times that he could see the U.S. having direct oversight of Venezuela for years.

Caracas

Trump says U.S. could have direct oversight in Venezuela for years

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Texas

ISS crew returning due to medical issue for first time in NASA history

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Trump to meet Colombia’s Petro after tensions over Venezuela operation

The United Kingdom aided the U.S. in an operation to seize a sanctioned oil tanker linked to Venezuela in the North Atlantic. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio reports.

UK helped the U.S. seize an oil tanker linked to Venezuela

U.S. forces on Wednesday seized two oil tankers, one in the North Atlantic and the other in the Caribbean, as part of the Trump administration's blockade of Venezuela's oil exports. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. will take between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil and sell it in the marketplace.

U.S. to control money from Venezuela oil sales after tanker seizures

Nick Reiner was set to be arraigned on murder charges on Wednesday in the killing of his parents Rob and Michele Reiner. But his defense attorney, Alan Jackson, told the judge he could no longer represent the 32-year-old. After the hearing, Jackson said he couldn't say why he withdrew for legal reasons, but added, "Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder."

Los Angeles

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NASA is considering a rare early return of its crew from the International Space Station over an unspecified medical issue involving one of the astronauts, after canceling a planned spacewalk that had been scheduled for Thursday (January 8), the agency said.

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UK helped U.S. military to seize sentenced oil tanker on way to Russia

Minneapolis erupts in protests after a woman is shot by a federal agent – Video of the incident sparks outrage nationwide.

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President Masoud Pezeshkian has urged security forces to show restraint, distinguishing peaceful protesters from armed rioters. However, rights group Iran Human Rights says at least 27 protesters have been killed, while Iranian media report 15 deaths, including members of the security forces.

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The decision comes as Trump approaches the first anniversary of his second term. Since returning to office, he has already moved to exit the World Health Organization, the Paris climate agreement, and UNESCO, while cutting funding to several UN bodies.

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