(Just The News)—As the federal government faces hundreds of billions of dollars in estimated annual fraud losses, a bipartisan majority of voters want it to use artificial intelligence to help catch waste and abuse, a new poll found.
In the latest The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll, 60% of registered voters said they support using artificial intelligence to help detect fraud, waste or abuse in government programs such as Medicaid. Twenty-seven percent opposed it and 13% were unsure.
The federal government could lose an estimated $233 billion to $521 billion a year to fraud, according to the Government Accountability Office, based on fiscal 2018-2022 data, though the tools meant to catch it have a mixed record.
Support crossed party lines. Nearly three-quarters of Republicans, 74%, backed the use of AI to detect fraud, along with 57% of independents and 48% of Democrats. Even among Democrats, the group most divided on the question, more supported the idea than opposed it.
The question comes as the government expands its use of AI and data matching to flag suspect payments. In fiscal 2025, federal agencies reported an estimated $186 billion in improper payments, about 82% of it from overpayments, concentrated in five programs that include Medicare and Medicaid, the program the poll asked voters about.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services screened 1 billion payments through the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay system in fiscal 2024 and prevented 363,386 payments worth $2.6 billion.
Of $765.8 billion in overpayments that agencies attributed to data-access problems between fiscal 2021 and 2024, about 73% — or $556.6 billion — stemmed from a failure to access data agencies already possessed, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The scale of outright fraud has been more difficult to measure. The GAO estimate, from 2024, was the first and only government-wide fraud figure of its kind. GAO has said it has no plans to update the spending-side number, having recommended that the Treasury Department develop a method for producing one instead. Treasury had not done so as of July 2026.
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Romina Boccia, director of budget and entitlement policy at the Cato Institute, said AI can help but is no substitute for controls agencies already have. AI “cannot compensate for weak eligibility verification, incomplete audits, poor data sharing, or a lack of accountability when agencies and contractors make repeated errors,” she told The Center Square.
Boccia said the technology should be judged by whether it “helps administrators prevent improper payments before they go out, produces verifiable savings, and does so without significantly increasing the denial rate of eligible people to receive benefits or necessary care.”
The AI tools are not foolproof. Of the 48 agencies that used the Treasury Department’s Do Not Pay system in fiscal year 2024, 15 reported it was not effective at preventing improper payments for them, according to the Congressional Research Service. The Defense Department reported that “the majority” of the matches the system flagged were false positives, such as a vendor’s tax identification number matching a deceased person’s Social Security number.
In 2024, a federal judge ruled that Tennessee’s automated Medicaid eligibility system had unlawfully terminated coverage for thousands of residents, finding it violated their due-process rights by relying on faulty data and incorrect household determinations.
Federal law limits how far a data match can go on its own. Under the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act, an agency generally cannot cut off someone’s benefits based solely on a data match. It must independently verify the match and give the person notice and an opportunity to respond. Those protections remain in place.
Using authority Congress granted in 2019, the Treasury Department in 2025 issued a four-year waiver allowing qualifying Do Not Pay matching programs to bypass the formal data-matching agreements and cost-benefit analyses agencies would otherwise have to complete. That came after a Trump executive order directed it to reduce administrative barriers.
The push to streamline that review has drawn objections. The Electronic Privacy Information Center, a privacy research group, argued in an Aug. 11 comment to the Department of Health and Human Services that comparing TANF recipients’ personal data against other databases without the required published matching agreements would violate the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act. The administration has said the change is meant to speed the detection of improper payments.
The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll was conducted by Noble Predictive Insights from Aug. 12-16, surveying 2,533 registered U.S. voters. The sample included 930 Republicans, 930 Democrats, and 673 Independents. Among independent voters, 330 respondents were classified as True Independents, or those who do not lean toward either major party when given the choice. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.0 percentage points.
Starting the Day With a Scripture-Inspired Roast Helps Center Your Thoughts on Eternal Truths Amid Temporal Pressures
The world can seem chaotic, especially right after we wake up. Many believers start their mornings reaching for something familiar — a hot cup of coffee — yet end up settling for mediocre brews that do little more than deliver a caffeine jolt. The daily grind of life, with its endless distractions, news cycles, and responsibilities, can leave even the most faithful feeling spiritually parched alongside their physical fatigue. What if your morning ritual could do more than wake you up? What if it could ground you in truth, nourish your body with exceptional quality, and quietly advance a kingdom purpose at the same time?
That’s the promise — and the reality — behind Promised Grounds Coffee. This Christian-founded company doesn’t just roast beans; it approaches every step as an act of worship and discipleship. By selecting only the top 10% of specialty-grade beans, ethically sourced from dedicated farmers in Central and South America, and small-batch roasting them with reverence in Austin, Texas, Promised Grounds delivers what many describe as the best coffee available — never burnt, never bland, but rich with origin stories and layered flavors that honor God’s creation.
From the vibrant Psalm 27 Roast (a light, bright medium option) to the bold yet peaceful 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf, each bag carries a Scripture verse that turns your daily pour into a gentle reminder of faith. And through their Ounce Per Ounce Promise, every ounce of coffee you enjoy provides an equal ounce of clean water to families in need via partnership with Filter of Hope — literally brewing hope for body and soul, one cup at a time.
The challenge for today’s Christians runs deeper than finding a decent cup. In an age of convenience-driven consumerism, it’s easy to support companies that dilute values or remain silent on matters of faith. Many believers want their everyday choices — from what they drink to how they spend — to reflect discipleship rather than just convenience. Promised Grounds solves this by weaving Christian excellence into the entire process: beans nurtured with prayerful stewardship by farming families, roasted as an offering rather than a commodity, and packaged with Bible verses to encourage a mindset of gratitude and purpose from the first sip. Reviewers consistently praise the smooth, rich profiles — whether enjoyed black in a drip maker, iced on a warm day, or shared in fellowship — noting how the quality stands toe-to-toe with premium secular brands while delivering something far more meaningful.
This integration of faith and flavor addresses a real need in Christian households and ministries. Busy parents, church leaders, and remote workers alike report that starting the day with a Scripture-inspired roast helps center their thoughts on eternal truths amid temporal pressures. The coffee’s exceptional character — bright citrus notes in lighter roasts or deep chocolate undertones in bolder ones — comes from meticulous selection and careful roasting that respects the bean’s natural gifts rather than masking them. It’s the kind of coffee that elevates a simple quiet time, fuels productive workdays, or sparks meaningful conversations when shared at Bible studies or outreach events. And because it’s ethically sourced with integrity, every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods for farmers who treat their crops like family harvests.
For those leading churches or small groups, the impact multiplies. Promised Grounds offers bundles and options perfect for hospitality ministries, turning ordinary coffee service into an opportunity to point people toward the living water of Christ. Imagine greeting visitors with a warm cup whose very bag carries God’s Word — a subtle yet powerful witness that aligns with the Great Commission. The company’s Texas roots and commitment to “brewing hope” resonate especially with believers who value American enterprise paired with global compassion.
Of course, quality alone isn’t enough if the experience feels out of reach. Promised Grounds keeps it accessible with practical perks like free shipping on orders over $40, sample sets for discovering favorites, and thoughtful add-ons such as faith-themed mugs. Whether you prefer whole beans for fresh grinding, grounds for convenience, or even bulk options for larger households and ministries, the result is consistently superior coffee that makes discipleship feel integrated rather than added on.
As you consider how to align even the smallest habits with your walk with God, Promised Grounds Coffee stands out as a refreshing solution. It tackles the dual problems of subpar daily sustenance and disconnected consumption by offering a product that genuinely excels in taste while advancing a mission of clean water, farmer dignity, and scriptural encouragement. Believers who make the switch often describe it as more than a beverage upgrade — it becomes part of their rhythm of gratitude, a daily invitation to remember that every good gift comes from above.
If you’re ready to transform your mornings (and perhaps your church gatherings) with coffee that honors both exceptional craftsmanship and Christian values, I encourage you to explore what Promised Grounds has to offer. One sip at a time, you’ll be nourishing your body, refreshing your spirit, and participating in something far greater — all while enjoying what truly is among the best coffee available.
