The Education Department Is Exposing Tens of Millions in Covid-Era Fraud
From The College Investor Audio Show by The College Investor
April 28, 2026 · 6 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the uncovering of fraud and mismanagement in COVID-19 education relief funds by the U.S. Department of Education.
The U.S. Department of Education, working with its Office of Inspector General, says it has uncovered tens of millions of dollars in fraud and mismanagement tied to COVID-19 pandemic education relief funds . This is part of the Trump Administration's broader push to crack down on waste across federal education programs. Why it matters: Congress distributed roughly $190 billion in Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds across three rounds between 2020 and 2021. This is more than three times what the federal government typically spends on K-12 education annually. The Department says much of it went out with weak safeguards and reduced oversight, creating openings for bad actors to exploit.
People in this episode
Host: The College Investor
Topics covered
- education fraud
- COVID-19 relief funds
- federal education programs
- oversight and management
- financial mismanagement
- government spending
Keywords
- education fraud
- COVID-19
- ESSER funds
- financial oversight
- government spending
- Trump Administration
- education relief
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, Trump Administration
Products: Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds
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