Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., defended the Trump administration's efforts to crack down on fraud in government programs and the H-1B visa system during a Thursday appearance on Newsmax's "National Report," arguing the administration is "bringing accountability" after years of government inaction.

Addressing reported fraud involving H-1B visa applications, Miller praised the administration's approach. The H-1B visa allows employers to hire foreign professionals in fields requiring specialized knowledge.

"I'm very grateful that we have an administration that cares about the American people, the American worker, the American taxpayer, and we are rooting out the fraud," Miller said.

"We are dealing with it and bringing accountability."

She accused Democratic-led states of resisting federal enforcement.

"Blue states like Illinois are refusing to cooperate," she said.

"They have known this has been going on, and we are not making it an option. They have to deal with it, or we are going to cut off federal funding."

Miller argued the federal government has failed to prioritize American workers over foreign labor.

"The government has been not protecting the American worker or the student, the taxpayer," she said. "They aren't advocating for our American students to get the jobs."

Highlighting legislation she supports, Miller said the Working Family Tax Cut Act includes one of her provisions requiring "taxpayer-funded benefits go to American citizens only."

She also criticized Democrats' immigration and labor policies.

"The Democrats and the left, they favor illegals over American citizens. They favor criminals over the victims. They favor H-1B visa workers over our American students. It's wrong. And we're going to put an end to it."

Miller credited President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance with shifting the federal government's priorities.

"President Trump and JD Vance, for once, are advocating for the American people," she said.

Discussing a report alleging widespread K-12 education fraud, including cases in Illinois, Miller again threatened financial consequences for states she said refuse to comply with federal requirements.

"Illinois is not complying with federal law, and we're just going to have to cut off federal funding if they won't do it," she said.

Miller alleged Illinois has refused to release Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rolls because, she said, "they are providing SNAP benefits to illegals," and claimed the state has also failed to properly oversee child care funding.

She added that fraud extends beyond education.

"We know now there's fraud in Social Security, there's fraud on the voter rolls, and then in education," Miller said.

Miller also promoted her Stop Child Care Scams Act, which she said strengthens penalties for states that fail to address fraud in federally funded childcare programs.

"In the past it had been an option to enforce penalties. But now we've changed from 'may' to 'shall.' So penalties will be assessed if states are not going to deal with the fraud," she said.

Citing Government Accountability Office estimates, Miller said fraud across federal programs "could be up to a half of $1 trillion a year."

"Every dollar that is wasted or given to fraudsters is a dollar that's taken away from seniors, from the disabled, from the most needy Americans that we want to help," she said.

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