FIRST ON FOX: A coalition of state financial officers said it uncovered roughly $225 million in alleged fraud across America’s schools over the past six years, identifying nearly 90 cases involving embezzlement, fake invoices, inflated enrollment, bid-rigging and kickbacks.

In a new report obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital, the State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF) and Open the Books analyzed every Education Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) Semiannual Report to Congress issued between Oct. 1, 2019, and March 31, 2026, revealing alleged fraud across 24 states and Puerto Rico.

"All fraud is harmful, but defrauding education dollars meant to help kids learn and succeed is especially hideous," SFOF CEO OJ Oleka said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"The findings in this report should alarm every family, teacher, and civic leader, especially since they only scratch the surface of the problem. The state financial officers courageously tracking every school dollar abused historically have had a bloated federal education bureaucracy only make their job harder."

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The findings come as the Trump administration prioritizes cracking down on government fraud, with Vice President JD Vance leading a nationwide "War on Fraud," raising fresh questions about oversight of federal education spending. About $67 million was ordered to be repaid through court rulings or settlements, though it's unclear how much has actually been recovered.

Oleka said the report is a reminder that state oversight has "never mattered more."

Only three of the nation's 20 largest federally funded school districts appeared in OIG records, according to the report. The remaining 17 were absent, while federal investigations targeted dozens of smaller districts, charter schools, online schools and education programs, highlighting potential gaps in federal oversight.

"With that in mind, stronger oversight of federal education dollars is more than some bureaucratic exercise — it is an economic and moral imperative," the report said. "Families deserve assurance that the public institutions meant to serve their children are not being looted by the very officials entrusted to lead them."

Open the Books CEO John Hart said the alleged fraud "hits us where it hurts most," because it shortchanges "America's future leaders," adding that in one case, the per-student fraud loss was enough to fund a semester at a charter school.

"These schemes within public schools arguably hit us where it hurts most: America’s future leaders," Hart said. "Every dollar wasted on fraud never makes it to the classroom where it’s urgently needed. Student outcomes will continue to suffer until we clean up both fraud and administrative overhead."

The report's largest cases included allegations that two now-closed Indiana online charter schools received $44 million in excess funding by inflating enrollment and that a Puerto Rico tutoring company obtained $24 million by billing for services never provided. In Florida, a Broward County Public Schools information officer allegedly steered $17 million in contracts to a friend's business, bypassing competitive bidding while personally profiting from the deals.

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In Texas, former Houston Independent School District Chief Operating Officer Brian Busby and contractor Anthony Hutchison allegedly orchestrated a fraud scheme of more than $6 million, involving school construction and grounds maintenance contracts in exchange for cash bribes and hundreds of thousands of dollars in home renovations.

A federal jury found Busby and Hutchison guilty of conspiracy, bribery, filing false tax returns, and witness tampering, with Hutchison also convicted on seven wire fraud counts, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas.

"Bureaucratic bloat, insider dealing, and poor oversight prompted Governor Abbott and the Texas Education Agency to intervene in HISD and appoint new leadership," HISD Superintendent Mike Miles told Fox News Digital. "School funding was being squandered, the quality of schools had deteriorated, and the majority of students' education was being neglected. That is no longer the case. Since June 2023, we have made it a priority to eliminate waste and most importantly, now every decision we make is focused on closing student achievement gaps, preparing students for the future, and supporting teachers."

The report makes the case the alleged fraud carried a direct cost for students in smaller school districts and that the true cost is likely even higher because not all fraud is detected, investigated or prosecuted.

California accounted for two of the report's most costly cases.

Students at the now-closed Community Preparatory Academy charter school lost about $9,090 per student after the school's head used $3 million in taxpayer funds for personal travel, restaurants, online shopping and private school tuition for her children, according to the report. In Magnolia School District, students lost about $3,553 per student after a former fiscal services director allegedly embezzled nearly $16.7 million to buy a luxury home, car and designer goods.

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Additionally, students in West Virginia's Boone County Schools lost about $1,096 per student after a former maintenance director stole $3.4 million through fraudulent invoices for janitorial and custodial supplies that were never delivered, using the proceeds to buy vehicles, equipment and make improvements to his home.

The report also cited Chicago Public Schools, which agreed to return about $1 million in federal grant funding after an OIG review found the district could not adequately verify student eligibility for an Indian Education grant program.

Fox News Digital reached out to Broward County Public Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Magnolia School District and Boone County Schools for comment.

Alleigh Marré, executive director of the American Parents Coalition, said the report "highlights parents' worst fears."

"This is why parents need to have a seat at the table to ensure their children are receiving the best education possible and schools are not wasting taxpayer dollars on noneducation-based materials," Marré said.

The report concluded that "every step must be taken to unwind the enormous bureaucracy and spending" by returning education to the state and local level.

"Not only is that in keeping with the founders’ vision for a limited Executive Branch, but state and local officials are much better equipped to understand the needs of their communities, find efficiencies, innovate for better student outcomes and keep foxes out of the proverbial henhouse," the report said.

Department Spokesperson Ellen Keast told Fox News Digital that "rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse across the government is a priority for the Trump-Vance Administration."

"Secretary McMahon is proud to serve on the Vice President’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and remains committed to delivering lasting results for American students and taxpayers – including nearly $2 billion in taxpayer savings to date.," Keast said. "Misuse of taxpayer funds became widespread under the previous Administration, which is why addressing it is a top priority."

"The Sopranos" creator David Chase warned in a new interview that political censorship in Hollywood could be on the horizon under President Donald Trump.

"Since Trump, I’ve been concerned it’s only a little big or a hop, skip and a jump up to censorship," Chase told Variety while discussing upcoming projects this week at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic.

Chase, who created the Emmy-winning HBO mob drama that ran from 1999 to 2007, made the remark while discussing "Project: MKUltra," an HBO series he is developing about the CIA's Cold War-era mind control program, and a separate independent film he said would also deal with the drug LSD.

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The writer said he was not especially concerned about conspiracy theorists or right-wing commentators online driving backlash to the project but about a future in which artists face political restrictions on what they can say.

Chase said he was concerned about creatives "being told you can’t say that, and you can’t do that."

Chase agreed when Variety asked if his concerns amounted to fears of a modern-day Hays Code, the Hollywood censorship system that once dictated what could appear in films.

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"Exactly," Chase said.

Chase compared his political concerns to his earlier years working in network television, when he said strict rules controlled even minor details of what could be shown on screen.

"I used to work on network television, and you couldn’t have a person burp on camera. You couldn’t show the toilet bowl, the gun going off, the person getting shot," Chase said. "It was rules, rules, rules. And those are minor things. When you get to the political stuff, that concerns me."

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Chase made the comments as he returned to the international spotlight at Karlovy Vary, where festival organizers said he was appearing for an industry talk about the legacy of "The Sopranos," streaming, financing, authorship and the importance of creative risks.

He also told Variety he is independently working on a feature film "that deals with LSD," saying the story involves "a young woman" who's a college DJ.

The film would mark Chase's first directorial feature since "Not Fade Away," his 2012 coming-of-age drama. He also co-wrote and produced the 2021 "Sopranos" prequel film, "The Many Saints of Newark."

Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office, "Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship," saying it was federal policy to protect constitutionally protected speech and prevent government officials from abridging Americans’ First Amendment rights.

Anti-Trump voices online are celebrating the U.S. soccer team's Monday night World Cup loss to Belgium after President Donald Trump said he intervened with FIFA to help get an American star cleared to play.

Folarin Balogun, a player who was integral to the U.S. team's success in the earlier rounds of the tournament, received a red card in a win over Bosnia and Herzegovina last week after stepping on the ankle of a defender while vying for the ball.

Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino and asked the soccer organization to review the red card, which came along with a one-game suspension that would have barred Balogun from playing Monday night. FIFA announced Sunday that Balogun's punishment would be suspended but said that Trump's call had nothing to do with the decision.

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After a lackluster performance, the U.S. lost Monday night's match 4-1, leading to celebration among Trump opponents online.

"I don't follow soccer, but I hear the men's US team lost to Belgium, and that you know who tried to strong arm the officials to manipulate the outcome by voiding the suspension of that one star player," one person in a Tuesday post said of the notorious left-wing online echo chamber Bluesky.

"I'm glad we lost. [F---] our demented moronic 'leader' and [f---] his FIFA goons and [f---] the US [right now], truly."

Another user wrote on the same site: "Sad I am to admit it, but I’m glad the [U.S. Men's National Team] lost to Belgium. I could never have supported a US Team that gained victory after Trump played the Refs and attempted to Rig the outcome."

"I am glad for [Belgium]," a third user wrote. "Trump put his thumb on the scale and still lost us the game. Karma is truly a b----."

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Yet another wrote on the left-wing platform: "So glad the US lost to Belgium after the Orange Baboon tried to cheat."

One user claimed that Trump would have taken credit had the team won, which would have been "unbearable," adding, "glad the US lost."

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Others took to social media before the game to proudly declare they were rooting against the American team.

Known Trump hater and film director Morgan J. Freeman was chief among them, saying in part on Bluesky, "I’m not rooting for the USA if they are cheating."

"I'm an American world cup [sic] fan, but I am now rooting against team USA," another person said.

After the U.S. team's crushing defeat this week, it will have to wait four years for a chance at World Cup redemption.

During last year’s All-Star Weekend, WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert promised the league would fix its officiating problem. But nearly two months into the 2026 season, it appears everything is still a mess.

Last year, poor officiating became one of the league's biggest storylines, overshadowing everything from playoff races to the WNBA Finals. Coaches publicly blasted referees, players openly questioned the consistency of calls, and Engelbert eventually acknowledged that something had to change.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGE

So the league assembled a task force of coaches and executives to address concerns over excessive physicality, freedom of movement and consistency in officiating. The WNBA also hired longtime official Eric Brewton as its new referee performance and development advisor.

And yet, here we are again.

Perhaps the best example came a couple of weeks ago, when Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark took a shot to the throat from Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas during a loose-ball sequence. Officials reviewed the play in real time and declined to assess a flagrant foul.

Days later, the league upgraded the play to a Flagrant 2 and suspended Thomas for one game.

Clark made it clear she believed officials got it wrong.

"I did think it was a flagrant foul," she said.

But she also said the issue extends far beyond one missed call.

"It's kind of been a discussion for three years now, and I think we really need to do a better job protecting the people in this league," Clark said Friday. "I've been involved in a few of those plays, but there's been plenty of others across the league that haven't been called. You go back postgame or whatever it is, teams submit clips and nothing changes. I think overall the league has to do better."

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Clark also called for greater investment in officiating.

"Overall, the league just has to do better and we have to invest in those areas," she said. "The technology can get better. We can treat the referees a little bit better. Pay them like they're full-time employees."

The concerns don't stop with Clark.

According to a report from The Athletic, coaches and general managers from eight different teams agreed that the quality of WNBA officiating remains subpar and that additional resources, accountability and investment are desperately needed.

"Dangle a bigger carrot," one coach told the outlet. "Pay them more money. Go get better talent to come to the W. I don't think we have the best talent. We have the best league in the world, but we don't have the best talent."

Others believe the league's review process is fundamentally broken.

Teams can clip plays and submit them for review, but multiple sources told The Athletic that the system suffers from delays and produces little noticeable improvement from game to game.

There have also been several high-profile officiating blunders this season.

The Chicago Sky were reportedly informed that three critical calls during a June 20 loss to Dallas were all incorrect. In another game, officials failed to realize Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell had fouled out and allowed play to continue before Indiana could substitute her.

"I hate to say it, but that's gross unawareness," USA Network analyst Meghan McPeak said during the broadcast.

"This should never happen," WNBA legend Tamika Catchings added.

Meanwhile, Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada couldn't hide her frustration after a loss to the Washington Mystics.

"I'm going to get fined, but I don't care," Canada said. "Tonight, the officiating was awful."

She even described one sequence where an official admitted to making the wrong call.

"But that doesn't help me, because now I have two fouls," Canada said.

That pretty much sums up where the WNBA finds itself right now.

The league knew officiating had become a problem, so it formed a task force and (supposedly) implemented changes. It talked about protecting players and creating consistency.

And yet players, coaches and executives are still having the exact same conversations they were having a year ago.

Nobody is asking for perfection. Officiating professional basketball games is incredibly difficult.

But for a league currently enjoying the most successful era in its history — expansions, record television audiences, a $3 billion media rights deal — something has to change.

Maybe that means better training, better communication, a stronger review process and more clarity on what actually constitutes a foul. Maybe that means hiring full-time refs and paying them a living wage. A novel concept.

But at some point, "we're working on it" doesn’t cut it anymore.

President Donald Trump intervened in Folarin Balogun’s red card controversy in the World Cup, calling FIFA president Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of the controversial decision in the Round of 32 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a source confirmed to Fox News.

It’s unknown what exactly Trump said to Infantino, who the 45th and 47th president has called a "great leader in sports" and a friend.

The USMNT striker, who has three goals in this World Cup including one prior to his red card in the Round of 32 match, has been cleared to play in a stunning twist of events.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The Athletic, which first reported Balogun’s playing status on Sunday, noted that part of FIFA’s disciplinary code stated, "the judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure."

"If the person benefiting from a suspended sanction commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked by the judicial body and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement," the rule added.

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FIFA confirmed Balogun’s suspension was for a probationary period of one year.

"We accept the decision of the Disciplinary Committee and are pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete tomorrow," U.S. Soccer said. "Our full attention is focused on the Round of 16 match against Belgium in Seattle, and we look forward to the continued support of our amazing fans."

Meanwhile, Belgium, which narrowly escaped Senegal in the Round of 32, was "astonished" by FIFA’s decision to allow Balogun the right to play on Monday night. The Royal Belgian Football Association said it will be " investigating all potential options" to reverse this decision on Balogun.

Team USA manager Mauricio Pochettino and his staff were thinking about how to replace Balogun atop their formation, but now that has all changed, allowing them to run out their regular starting XI against a formidable Belgium squad.

While the USMNT will hope to beat Belgium, and other opponents moving forward, Trump and Infantino will be together at New York/New Jersey Stadium on July 19 for the World Cup Final. Just as they did last year at the FIFA Club World Cup Final, Trump will hand out the World Cup trophy to the winning team’s captain on the field, which Infantino said on " Fox & Friends."

If the USMNT takes down Belgium on Monday night, they would just be the second team in the country’s history to reach the quarterfinals. They would also face the winner of Portugal and Spain if they can take care of Belgium first.

Fox News’ Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report.

When the Fourth of July rolls around, you can count on Paige Spiranac to deliver. Whether it's showing hot dogs who's boss or slipping into patriotic swimwear of various styles, she's there.

This year she kept the tradition going and it shouldn’t surprise anyone. She's built an entire social media brand on her consistency, her authenticity, and her creativity.

Her "Happy 4th of July!" message arrived as expected Saturday afternoon. What wasn't expected is that the image's authenticity would be called into question.

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That transpired shortly after Paige posted it. Doubt crept into the mind of at least one person who called out the golf influencer for using AI.

The image included in the Fourth of July post features her wearing a patriotic bikini while standing in front of a background that isn't real.

"Paige you’re better than AI!," the person questioning the image wrote. "Still, great cans."

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

The image, according to Paige, isn’t the product of AI and those cans featured in the string bikini are all hers. What people are seeing is the magic of a calendar photo shoot and the work of a graphic designer.

"Not AI. This image was from my 2026 calendar," Paige responded. "We shot it in studio and then a graphic designer made the background."

The explanation was good enough to erase any doubt from the mind of the person who had made the AI claim. They replied, "Forgive me!! You look spectacular!!!!"

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Still there are those who aren't going to buy it. Paige isn’t worried about them. She addressed it and moved on.

She has golf content to make and more important concerns to address than what people believe is AI and what they believe isn't. It's always something. Before AI, it was filters and Photoshop.

Some people choose to be miserable. For everyone else, happy Fourth of July from Paige Spiranac. Mark your calendars and we'll do it again next year.

The UFC Freedom 250 event made history as the first professional sporting event held on the White House lawn. Now for the first time, mixed martial arts fans can uncover how the Trump administration and event organizers helped put on the star-studded event.

"UFC Fight House: The Making of the Biggest Fight in History" is a two-part documentary now streaming on Fox Nation. The episodic event details the intense planning and logistics behind how the White House pulled off hosting the big fight, including the construction of 'the Claw,' which held seating for thousands of attendees.

New, exclusive commentary features UFC President and CEO Dana White and President Donald Trump, alongside many of his prominent allies. White compared the idea of the event to a Hollywood film, reflecting on the significance of what he and his team pulled off.

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"You just couldn't write a better script than this," White said. "If you scripted this out like a movie, this is a documentary of what really happened. If this were a script of a movie, you'd call bullsh-- on a hundred things that happened; it's pretty amazing. You could never imagine that this would happen. You could never imagine that we would be asked to do an event at the White House."

"When President Trump tells you, 'Let's do something,' and you agree to it, now we have to deliver," he continued. "There isn't anything we can't do. You saw the idea of what we wanted to do. Now this is the reality."

Nine long months was what it took to host the premier sporting event of America's 250th anniversary. But Trump said in the documentary that the UFC Freedom 250's legacy could last much longer than just one of many Independence Days.

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"I think this is going to go down as one of the greatest sporting events and maybe one of the greatest events ever," he said.

The UFC Freedom 250's viewership numbers seemed to match the organizers' lofty ambitions. UFC announced its total global viewership for the event was an estimated 34 million people, making it one of the most-watched events in the sport's history. Paramount+ reported that 17 million viewers alone watched the event on their platform across the United States and Latin America, solidifying the event as a groundbreaking success.

White revealed his more personal reasons for holding the UFC event at the White House, citing the country's history of fighting dating all the way back to the Revolutionary War.

"Americans have been fighting since day one, since the birth of America," White said. "We fought to get independence and to build this country. It started with a fight. So to have a fight on the White House lawn on the 250th birthday of America, no other sport would make sense."

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Fox Nation also takes viewers inside the mind of UFC executive producer Craig Borsari, the "architect" of the Freedom 250's production. Borsari in the documentary is seen at one point calmly sipping his morning coffee but clarified that outside those peaceful moments, preparing for the massive White House event was a constant rush of energy.

"When I'm enjoying my cup of coffee, the rest of my day is anything but that," he said. "When you plan for an event of this magnitude, you kind of get that adrenaline rush. You want the adrenaline; you want that nervous kind of tension a little bit because it keeps you sharp. It keeps the team seeking out all the opportunities to make this event an incredible one."

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