Fetterman Backs CMS Chief Mehmet Oz’s Probe of New York Medicaid Fraud and Calls for Deporting Criminal Immigrants
In a recent CBS News interview, Sen. John Fetterman, D‑Pa., praised his former 2022 Senate opponent, Dr. Mehmet Oz, now Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administrator, for what he called appropriate efforts to “root out” widespread fraud in Medicaid and said he supports deporting criminal immigrants. Fetterman said Oz is “zeroing in on” fraud and that he is “very supportive of Medicaid” while insisting abuse be eliminated, an unusual public endorsement of a Trump administration official from a prominent Democrat. The comments come after Oz sent New York Gov. Kathy Hochul a letter earlier this month posing 50 detailed questions about the state’s Medicaid program and giving her administration 30 days to respond, saying there is evidence of extensive fraud. A Hochul spokesperson told Fox News the governor had already led reforms that shut down hundreds of Medicaid middlemen and saved more than $2 billion, pledged to work with CMS to identify bad actors, but also cast the federal probe as politically motivated and part of a broader Republican push to weaken safety‑net programs. The episode highlights a rare moment of bipartisan agreement on targeting Medicaid fraud even as both parties accuse each other of using enforcement as a weapon to advance larger ideological fights over the size and scope of public health coverage.
📌 Key Facts
- Sen. John Fetterman told CBS’s Major Garrett it is “entirely appropriate” for CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz to pursue Medicaid fraud and said he supports rooting it out.
- Fetterman also said on immigration that officials should “root out all of the criminals and deport them,” aligning with a Trump administration priority.
- Earlier this month Oz sent New York Gov. Kathy Hochul a letter with 50 questions about the state’s Medicaid program and a 30‑day deadline for answers, citing evidence of widespread fraud.
- A Hochul spokesperson said her administration has already implemented Medicaid reforms that shut down hundreds of middlemen and saved over $2 billion, but labeled the CMS probe politically motivated while vowing to cooperate against “bad actors.”
📊 Relevant Data
New York's Medicaid program spending reached $124 billion in 2026, with allegations of widespread fraud contributing to elevated costs relative to the state's population.
Dr. Oz launches fraud probe of New York's $124B Medicaid program — New York Post
In 2023, Black and Hispanic Americans were twice as likely as White Americans to lose Medicaid coverage during the reenrollment process, with 25% of Black and 23% of Hispanic individuals disenrolled compared to 12% of White individuals.
Research Finds Significant Racial Disparities in Medicaid Re-enrollments — The New York Times
As of February 2026, 73.6% of individuals held in ICE detention (50,259 out of 68,289) have no criminal conviction, indicating that a majority of detentions are not tied to criminal history.
TRAC: Immigration Detention Quick Facts — TRAC Reports
U.S. immigration policies, such as the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act and subsequent border militarization, have contributed to increased unauthorized migration from Latin America by restricting legal pathways while economic demands persisted.
Unintended Consequences of US Immigration Policy — PMC - NIH
Medicaid fraud in New York often involves providers submitting false claims for services not rendered, leading to billions in improper payments that deplete funds intended for vulnerable populations.
Medicaid Fraud in New York — Cato at Liberty Blog
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