Trump Nominates Colin McDonald to Lead New DOJ Fraud Division

President Donald Trump nominated federal prosecutor Colin McDonald to serve as the first Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement, a newly created division within the Department of Justice. Announced via Truth Social on January 28, 2026, the role aims to centralize the government's crackdown on systemic fraud and the misappropriation of taxpayer funds.

Trump specifically cited "industrial-scale fraud" in California and Minnesota, claiming these schemes have stolen hundreds of billions of dollars. In Minnesota, prosecutors estimate fraud in state-run pandemic-era programs could exceed $9 billion, and the DOJ has already charged 98 defendants. To support these efforts, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent established an IRS task force to audit financial institutions for money laundering, while FinCEN issued a Geographic Targeting Order for banks in Hennepin and Ramsey counties.

McDonald, currently the associate deputy attorney general, previously served as a prosecutor in Southern California and Hawaii. If confirmed by the Senate, he will depart from traditional Justice Department reporting lines by reporting directly to the president and Vice President JD Vance. The nomination received endorsements from Attorney General Pamela Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, and the State Financial Officers Foundation, as well as state auditors and treasurers from Kentucky, Missouri, and Utah.