From Daily Caller: Democratic California Rep. Ro Khanna is sharpening his criticism of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s handling of taxpayer dollars, arguing that $72 billion in alleged fraud in the state’s budget is “outrageous and appalling.”
Khanna, a populist Democrat representing Silicon Valley, said he has been inundated by constituents concerned about “fraud, waste and abuse” in California’s state government. The California Democrat said he would launch a bipartisan effort from his perch on the House Oversight Committee to combat state-level fraud and would draft legislation that would independently audit the Golden State’s budget.
Khanna’s decision to spotlight fraud comes after Republicans have sharply criticized a massive welfare fraud scandal in Minnesota that could amount to more than $1 billion in stolen taxpayer money. More than 60 individuals — many of Somali descent — have been convicted.
In an X post, Khanna wrote, “…the $72 billion fraud in Sacramento is outrageous and appalling. There needs to be full accountability for the waste and new leadership in Sacramento. Taxpayers are owed an accounting of where every penny of their tax dollars are going –a detailed receipt.”
One place you and I probably agree @chamath & @Jason @friedberg is the $72 billion fraud in Sacramento is outrageous and appalling. There needs to be full accountability for the waste and new leadership in Sacramento. Taxpayers are owed an accounting of where every penny of their… https://t.co/CXbIFqsqvK
— Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) December 28, 2025
Newsom’s team accused Khanna of repeating Republican talking points.
“Interesting to see a Dem repeat the MAGA-made-up $72B number,” Izzy Gordon, communications director for Newsom, replied on X. “That ‘fraud’ supposedly includes the $17B spent on high-speed rail — which has created 16,000 union jobs and built 50+ COMPLETED projects. Calling union work ‘fraud’ is certainly a choice.”
Interesting to see a Dem repeat the MAGA-made-up $72B number.
That “fraud” supposedly includes the $17B spent on high-speed rail — which has created 16,000 union jobs and built 50+ COMPLETED projects.
Calling union work “fraud” is certainly a choice. https://t.co/bGNNTUqzEP
— Izzy Gardon (@iGardon) December 31, 2025
The Trump administration revoked $4 billion in federal funding for California’s high-speed rail project this year amid serial delays and mounting costs. The Trump administration called the project a “boondoggle.”
Newsom and Khanna are likelys contenders for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary.
Read more at Daily Caller
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