Mills: Oz's fraud allegations pull from 'malicious playbook' for targeting #Trump's political foes
Maine Public | By Steve Mistler
Published February 9, 2026
"Gov. #JanetMills says the #Trump administration is using findings from a routine social services audit to drum up allegations of fraud for political purposes. The governor's comments follow threats from a top #Medicaid official to cut off the state's federal funding.
"In the past several days, Centers for #Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator #MehmetOz has made allegations of widespread fraud in Maine's social services programs, at one point drawing comparisons to the scandal unfolding in #Minnesota.
"In a recently posted social media video, the former celebrity TV doctor suggested that Maine could lose its federal Medicaid funding.
" 'If we don't like what we see, CMS will work with Maine to put their house in order. And if we're not satisfied with their progress, we reserve the right to cut off their payments entirely,' he said.
"Those threats follow a recent audit by the Office of Inspector General that found the state made $45.6 million in improper payments to providers for #autism services. That review, initiated during the Biden administration, did not allege fraud, which is different than improper payments. However, the state may have to pay back $28.7 million to the federal government.
"Mills, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate, said in a statement Monday that Oz's statements mark another example of the Trump administration's 'malicious playbook' of targeting its political opponents.
" 'Let’s be clear about what this is: Maine is facing a political attack from a president who uses allegations of fraud as a pretense to send (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and other weaponized federal agents into states led by Democrats with devastating consequences,' she said in a statement."
cc: @autistics