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>Yes, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently conducting extensive investigations into COVID-19-related activities. As of January 2026, the DOJ has intensified its focus through the creation of a new Division for National Fraud Enforcement to centralise these efforts.
The DOJ is primarily investigating the following crimes and schemes:
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Pandemic Relief Fraud
The largest area of investigation involves the theft of federal funds from several relief programs:
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) & EIDL Fraud: Individuals and businesses submitting fraudulent applications for loans, often using fake employee data or non-existent businesses.
Unemployment Insurance (UI) Fraud: Large-scale identity theft rings and individuals filing fraudulent claims for pandemic-related unemployment benefits.
CARES Act Fraud: General misuse of funds provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act for personal gain.
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Healthcare and Medical Fraud
Investigations continue into fraudulent medical practices that emerged during the pandemic:
Billing for Unnecessary Tests: Lab operators and providers billing Medicare/Medicaid for COVID-19 tests that were never ordered, not medically necessary, or for deceased patients.
Fake Cures and Treatments: The sale of unapproved or fraudulent "cures," vaccines, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
Kickback Schemes: Providers paying or receiving illegal kickbacks in exchange for patient data used to bill for COVID-19-related services.
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COVID-19 Origins and Research
The DOJ is also examining activities related to the start of the pandemic:
EcoHealth Alliance Investigation: A grand jury was reportedly empaneled to investigate potential crimes related to federal grants used for research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Gain-of-Function Research: Inquiries into whether federal money was used for prohibited gain-of-function research that may have contributed to the virus's origin.
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Corporate and Civil Violations
The DOJ uses the False Claims Act (FCA) to pursue civil penalties against larger entities:
Program Limit Violations: Major companies, such as airlines, have reached settlements for allegedly exceeding limits set by the Payroll Support Program.
Whistleblower Suits: A record number of "qui tam" (whistleblower) lawsuits were filed in 2025, leading to hundreds of new DOJ investigations into pandemic program integrity.