Posted on 04/06/2026 12:58:30 PM PDT by DFG
Government auditors in Democrat-dominated Washington State say that more than $1.3 billion in spending through the state’s childcare subsidy system cannot be verified. The audit, covering 2021 through 2024, revealed that the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) failed to maintain the necessary records to track federal childcare funds at the provider level, leaving a slew of expenditures and other payments unaccounted for.
Concerningly, the financial review found in 2024 that $416 million was unauditable, with $356 million in 2023, $268.5 million in 2022, and $293 million in 2021. The State Auditor’s Office (SAO) described the situation as “serious and troubling,” noting that it had to “disclaim” the entire program due to the lack of documentation.
Notably, another audit in 2025 uncovered $37 million in questionable payments within a single year, linked to missing attendance records, overbilling, and insufficient documentation. DCYF admitted to $2 million in overpayments, while auditors noted it was “impossible” to trace payments for four consecutive years. Internal reviews revealed that 67 percent of audits identified overpayments, raising concerns about the system’s ability to prevent errors before funds are distributed.
Critics argue that the program operates on a “pay first, verify later” model, with no reliable way to confirm whether services were actually provided. However, the state auditor notes that the agency is unable to investigate and determine whether fraud occurred or what portion of the $1.3 billion in unverified spending is the result of criminal activity.
“Determining fraud requires criminal evidence and can only be done by enforcement agencies in conjunction with the judicial system,” the state auditor contends, adding, “We are a reporting agency, not an enforcement agency. The responsibility for correcting problems uncovered by audits lies with the leaders and managers of the agency, as well as with federal entities who distribute the funds.”
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was unauditable,
It only takes one Democrat operative and in-the-know bureaucrat to delete the computer files, or take the key paper records away and burn them.
Its really the perfect crime.
If so, it’s jail time for those responsible for records retention.
WE need an oversight into the bank of the Vatican ....
Paging JD
There is no such thing. The checks had to be cashed by someone. The deposits can be traced.
By design.
OK...raise your hand if you DID NOT see this coming...
The dhimmicraps are a criminal enterprise; have been for over 60 years. And, still the pubbies ain’t found the stones to do anything about it. Almost like they are in it with the dems.
I live in this state and have worked for multiple county and city governments as a department director. The Washington State Auditors Office makes a big show every year doing the annual audits of cities and counties and heaven forbid you have a problem.
Not surprised they let at least 1.3 Billion go un accounted for.
We know that isn’t going to happen.
Why is someone not going to jail for this? I know the answer but if this had been a Republican state, the media would never stop.
This is the political class’ dream come true. The political class has managed to turn elections into a team sport. Voters tend to excuse bad behavior by their team. Just what politicians want, an electorate so dumbed down, so misinformed that they will vote for anyone wearing their team’s jersey. Fraud? Corruption? Perversion? None of that matters as long as it’s their team.
How convenient!
anyone think it is unauditable?
~~~
Nope!
Not being auditable is negligent malfeasance at the least, if not fraud and coverup.
Someone needs to go down hard for this.
If you are going to coverup a scandal, the one who is responsible for the records should pay at least as hard as anyone who was involved in the scandal that got protected.
The records in CA, MN, WA vanish like magic.
Yea, try that excuse if you are a lowly peon that has to pay taxes under the threat of law, and even death.
These Liberals LOVE their big, sloppy government
There is no such thing. The checks had to be cashed by someone. The deposits can be traced.
~~~
You need investigative, prosecutorial and judicial (subpoena) powers to dig into a lot of that though.
The communist state of California doesn’t have to investigate or prosecute itself, and it wont.
So if the IRS audits me, and I have no records to audit, I’m screwed. What is more, the IRS (I assume) has the ability to dig into all of my accounts and account for all of my possessions, as well as investigate (and interrogate) who I have had dealings with.
However, an accountant or investigative journalist doesn’t have such powers.
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