Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The Stop Fraud in Federal Programs Act of 2026 increases criminal penalties for theft and bribery in federal programs, doubling maximum prison sentences from 10 to 20 years and raising fines to either $250,000 or twice the value of stolen property, whichever is greater. The bill also requires organizations operating the federal summer food service program to undergo annual independent audits by third-party auditors, with results submitted directly to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These changes affect anyone committing fraud against federally funded programs and all institutions participating in the summer food service program, which provides meals to low-income children during school breaks. The bill does not specify new funding allocations but shifts audit responsibilities to program participants. It was introduced in January 2026 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Education and Workforce for review.
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