Criminalizes Veterans Benefits Fraud

Summary#

The Preventing Crimes Against Veterans Act of 2025 would amend Title 18 of the U.S. Code by adding a federal crime for certain fraud involving veterans’ benefits. Its stated goal is to provide an additional tool to prevent certain frauds against veterans. The bill has been introduced and referred to the House Judiciary Committee; it is not law.

  • A person who knowingly carries out or attempts a scheme to defraud someone of veterans’ benefits, or in connection with obtaining those benefits for that person, could be fined, imprisoned for up to five years, or both.
  • The bill defines veterans’ benefits as benefits provided by federal law for a veteran, or a veteran’s dependent or survivor.
  • It uses the definition of “veteran” in Title 38 of the U.S. Code.
  • The bill does not change who qualifies for benefits or how much they receive.

What it means for you#

  • Veterans, dependents and survivors: The bill would not change your eligibility or payments. It would create a federal crime covering certain schemes to defraud someone of benefits for a veteran, dependent or survivor.
  • People who handle or seek benefits for someone else: Knowingly carrying out or attempting a covered fraud could bring a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. The bill does not make an ordinary mistake a crime; it requires knowing conduct.
  • General public: The bill would add a criminal offense to federal law. It does not name an enforcement agency or set out investigation or prosecution procedures.

Money#

No estimate of federal implementation or enforcement costs is in the available material.

  • The bill does not provide funding or an estimate of staffing or enforcement costs.
  • It allows a fine under Title 18 but does not state a fine amount in the bill.

What is unclear#

  • The bill does not explain how the new offense would interact with existing federal fraud laws. The supplied material does not include the current Title 18 provisions needed to verify that overlap.
  • The bill does not define “scheme or artifice to defraud” or explain the scope of fraud “in connection with” obtaining benefits.
  • The bill refers to Title 38 for the definition of “veteran,” but that definition was not supplied here.
  • The bill does not set a start date or describe enforcement procedures.

Case for#

  • A possible argument for the bill is that a specific federal offense could make clear that attempts to defraud people in connection with veterans’ benefits are covered, not just completed schemes.
  • The definition reaches federal benefits for veterans as well as their dependents and survivors.
  • The offense would require knowing conduct, which distinguishes it from an accidental error.

Case against#

  • The bill does not explain how the new offense would differ from or interact with existing federal fraud offenses, so its added value is unclear from the supplied material.
  • Key phrases about the kinds of schemes covered are not defined in the bill. That could leave uncertainty about the offense’s reach.
  • The bill sets a possible prison term but does not provide details about enforcement, implementation costs or the fine amount.