Improper payments totaled $186 billion in 2025

Topline: The federal government lost $186 billion to improper payments in fiscal year 2025, according to newly released data from the Office of Management and Budget. That’s more than $350,000 in taxpayer money every minute, all sent to the wrong person, for the wrong amount, or for the wrong reason.

Key facts: Medicare was responsible for $56.7 billion of the improper payments, and Medicaid lost $37.4 billion.

The other biggest offenders included the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Agriculture...