Trump Fraud Pick Deflects Senator Questions on New DOJ Office

Nominee for head of new fraud division outlines broad vision but provides few specifics on cases

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The White House nominee to lead a newly established fraud division at the Department of Justice outlined a broad enforcement vision during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, but provided senators with few specifics on cases he plans to target and dodged questions about potential Trump-directed prosecutions.

Why it matters

The creation of a new fraud division at the DOJ under the Trump administration has raised concerns about potential political interference in prosecutions, and the nominee's evasive responses during the confirmation hearing have done little to allay those fears.

The details

Colin McDonald, a former San Diego line prosecutor who joined the Trump DOJ last year, told senators that if confirmed as the inaugural head of the DOJ's national fraud enforcement division, he would initially focus on targeting abuse of taxpayer-funded programs such as Medicaid and SNAP. However, when pressed for details on specific cases he plans to pursue, McDonald said, 'I do not have cases in mind, Senator.'

  • The Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing for McDonald on February 25, 2026.

The players

Colin McDonald

The White House nominee to lead the newly established fraud division at the Department of Justice.

Sen. John Kennedy

A Republican senator from Louisiana who questioned McDonald during the confirmation hearing.

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What they’re saying

“I do not have cases in mind, Senator.”

— Colin McDonald, Nominee for head of new DOJ fraud division

What’s next

The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on whether to confirm McDonald as the head of the DOJ's new fraud division.

The takeaway

The evasive responses from the nominee for the new DOJ fraud division have done little to assuage concerns about potential political interference in prosecutions under the Trump administration.