Questioner presses official over whistleblower claims that administration discouraged reporting fraud as 'racist' or 'Islamophobic'

A questioner at a hearing pressed an unnamed official about whistleblower claims that the administration discouraged reporting widespread fraud by suggesting such reports would be considered racist or Islamophobic.

The exchange, as recorded in the hearing transcript, centered on whether identifying suspected fraud could be characterized as targeting racial or religious groups and on allegations from multiple whistleblowers that they were told not to speak up. The questioner concluded the exchange by reminding the official that "the buck stops with you."

"Is it racist for a government official to identify fraud?" the Questioner asked, and later added, "Is it Islamophobic to identify fraud?" The transcript records a reply of "No." It also records a statement, "I can't speak to it because it's not anything I would say," in response to the whistleblower allegation; the transcript does not identify the respondent by name.

The Questioner pressed: "How come multiple whistleblowers have said that your administration told them not to say anything about widespread fraud across multiple agencies because doing so would be considered racist or Islamophobic?" The exchange ended with the Questioner saying, "And as you just testified, the buck stops with you." The transcript includes no recorded vote, motion, or immediate formal action tied to these remarks.

The record provided does not identify the official who responded to the questioner by name, nor does it include further testimony or corroboration of the whistleblower claims. The transcript excerpts here therefore reflect the allegations and the immediate responses recorded in the hearing, without additional documentary evidence presented in this segment.