Nebraska State Auditor Mike Foley reports an "explosion" of fraud tips flooding his office as GPS tracking technology exposes state employees using taxpayer-funded vehicles for liquor store trips and personal errands during work hours.
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See subscription optionsFoley told Fox News Digital his office is receiving unprecedented numbers of fraud allegations as waste and abuse dominate national headlines. The surge comes as the Trump administration deploys task forces to root out government fraud across federal agencies.
It's just extraordinary the explosion of phone calls and allegations and emails and so forth that are pouring into my office
GPS Data Exposes Taxpayer Vehicle Abuse
The auditor's crackdown centers on alleged misuse of state fleet vehicles equipped with GPS trackers. Foley's office reviewed data from 45 state vehicles and discovered employees allegedly taking trips to retail outlets, restaurants, medical facilities, and relatives' homes during work hours.
"Many of our state vehicles are now equipped with a GPS tracker," Foley explained from the State Financial Officers Foundation conference in Clearwater, Florida. "We can see precisely where these state vehicles are really going during work hours and they're going to liquor stores. They're going into health appointments that the employee might have. They're on personal errands all across the state."
The tracking revealed what Foley describes as improper use "racking up a lot of expense for the taxpayers." His findings mirror concerns about government accountability that have driven federal probes of local prosecutors and other officials nationwide.
Broader Pattern of Financial Improprieties
Foley documented his findings in a press release last year highlighting a "disturbing uptick" in alleged financial improprieties across Nebraska's local governments. His office detailed eight investigations involving suspected misuse of public money, questionable reimbursements, and possible fraud.
The auditor cited multiple examples beyond vehicle misuse, including contractors overbilling or double-billing the state and various infractions involving state assets. The Nebraska Examiner reported that GPS data showed employees using state vehicles for "commuting home without permission and other private errands."
Foley's aggressive approach reflects a broader movement among Republican officials to increase scrutiny of government spending. His findings parallel fraud detection efforts that have uncovered waste in other states, similar to investigative work that has exposed financial fraud schemes affecting taxpayers.
The auditor emphasized his office welcomes the surge in tips despite the increased workload. "We're happy to receive those calls and try to filter through them and find out which ones are the most legitimate ones for us to pursue," he said.
Media attention on fraud investigations nationwide has amplified public awareness, driving more whistleblowers to come forward with allegations. Foley noted the correlation between news coverage and tip volume, saying increased media focus "just makes the phone ring all the more."
The Nebraska investigation highlights how technology like GPS tracking gives auditors new tools to monitor government resources in real time. This capability allows oversight officials to document specific instances of alleged abuse with precise location data and timestamps.
Foley's office continues processing the flood of new allegations while pursuing active investigations. The auditor expects tip volume to remain elevated as national attention on government fraud intensifies and more citizens report suspected waste in their communities.
