Balducci calls for coordinated County leadership response to potential fraud within DCHS

May 19, 2026

Councilmember Claudia Balducci issued the following statement Tuesday regarding the Ombuds Office investigation, which outlines actions and recommendations related to the potential fraud within King County Department of Community and Human Services. This report follows a series of County reviews that shared similar troubling revelations of waste, fraud, and abuse:

“I share the public’s frustration with the slow trickle of revelations about fraud, waste, and abuse, and with how fragmented our efforts have been to uncover and to fix these problems. This piecemeal approach is simply insufficient for the success of King County government. Restoring transparency and rebuilding public trust in the face of misused resources, conflicts of interest, and other serious issues demands immediate, coordinated County leadership and urgent action. I will work closely with my Council colleagues to convene a committee that will take the reins on these issues and hold those inside and outside of County government accountable. Without decisive action, we risk a deeper erosion of confidence and undermine the good governance King County residents expect and deserve.”