Colorado's so-called "progressive" approach to welfare has finally hit the wall, and it's about time the federal government stepped in to clean up the mess. For years, Democrat-led administrations in the state have overseen a system riddled with fraud, waste, and outright incompetence, funneling billions in taxpayer money to the undeserving while hardworking Americans foot the bill.

Take the HUD scandal: An audit uncovered housing benefits going to 221 dead people, 87 confirmed ineligibles, and over 2,500 more needing urgent verification across dozens of public housing agencies — with Denver's being the worst offender. This isn't just sloppy bookkeeping; it's a glaring example of how loose verification standards under prior lax policies allowed abuse to flourish. The Trump administration's HUD is right to demand repayments and tougher checks — taxpayers shouldn't be subsidizing ghosts.

Then there's the $40 million Medicare and Medicaid fraud ring, where executives from Colorado labs allegedly paid kickbacks to scam elderly beneficiaries into unnecessary genetic tests. These predators exploited vulnerable seniors through call centers, bilking federal and state programs while Democrat oversight looked the other way. Indictments are a start, but it underscores the need for stricter controls to prevent such greed-fueled schemes.

On SNAP, Colorado's threats to sue over "withheld" funds ignore the root issue: administrative inefficiencies and massive variances that invited federal scrutiny. Losing $120 million monthly isn't just a "dispute" — it's the consequence of failing to run programs cost-effectively, forcing reliance on contingency funds that aren't endless. States can't keep demanding endless federal bailouts while refusing reforms that curb waste.

Finally, Denver Health and other hospitals are buckling under "unsustainable" losses, with uncompensated care projected at $155 million annually — driven in part by federal policy shifts tightening eligibility and a surge in charity care for migrant populations. While open-border policies flood the system with uninsured patients, local taxpayers are left holding the bag, approving new sales taxes just to keep services afloat. This is the real cost of sanctuary-state virtue signaling: strained resources for citizens while rewarding illegal immigration.

Enough is enough. These investigations prove that unchecked government expansion breeds corruption and inefficiency. It's time for accountability, stricter eligibility, fraud crackdowns, and reforms that put American citizens first. Colorado's welfare debacle is a warning to the nation: Big-government handouts without safeguards only enrich scammers and bureaucrats at everyone else's expense. Federal oversight isn't "scrutiny" — it's salvation for the taxpayers who've been fleeced for too long.