(The Center Square) – Fraud could cost federal taxpayers as much as $521 billion annually, according to a Foundation for Government Accountability report citing a federal estimate.

The report estimates that improper payments by the federal government have totaled about $3 trillion since 2003.

Elyse Apel, a graduate of Hillsdale College, is a reporter for The Center Square covering Minnesota and Michigan. Her work has appeared in a range of national outlets, including the Washington Examiner, The American Spectator, and The Daily Wire.

Originally published on thecentersquare.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.