Recover Fraudulent COVID Funds Act

Summary

Extends the time federal authorities and private parties have to bring criminal charges, customs forfeiture actions, and False Claims Act civil suits for fraud tied to COVID-era relief laws by generally setting a 10-year limitations period for those pandemic-era program violations. It also changes certain customs forfeiture timing rules and requires related notice and filing timeframes for FCA claims to fall within the 10-year window, while preserving existing tolling for absence or concealment. Applies specifically to violations connected to major pandemic-era statutes (for example, CARES Act, PPP, Families First, American Rescue Plan, and related acts and amendments), lengthening several existing shorter deadlines so enforcement and recovery actions may be initiated up to ten years after an offense or discovery as specified.

• Sets a general 10-year statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions of violations tied to specified COVID-era relief laws.
• Extends customs forfeiture timing to a 10-year discovery-based rule and a 3-year property-involvement rule for pandemic-era violations, replacing shorter existing periods.
• Creates a 10-year limitations period for False Claims Act suits based on pandemic-era program violations and aligns notice/delivery requirements with that period.
• Preserves existing tolling rules for absence or concealment and defers to any longer periods already provided by law.
• Applies only to violations tied to a defined set of pandemic-era statutes and amendments, not to unrelated offenses.
• Does not create new offenses, authorize new spending, or change tax law—only changes the time limits for enforcement actions.
• Increases time available to federal prosecutors, investigators, and private relators to build complex fraud cases stemming from pandemic relief efforts.
• May raise evidentiary and fairness concerns because longer limitation periods can affect witness memory, document retention needs, and defense planning.