As the former head of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency, Julie Su was tasked with overseeing the Employment Development Department (EDD), through which federal funding was channeled as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) measure. Subsequently, under Su’s administration, EDD was massively exploited by fraudsters across the nation, resulting in substantial fraudulent unemployment claims. This includes a case in which a rapper, Fontrell Antonio Baines, utilized EDD’s preloaded debit card benefits to fraudulently claim losses to the EDD and the U.S. Treasury. In response to these breaches, Su admitted the absence of substantial security measures to prevent such a level of fraud, although she failed to elaborate on which measures should have been implemented.

Joe Biden appointed Su to serve as the Acting Secretary for the federal Labor Department, an appointment that did not require Senate confirmation. Under this role, she reportedly eliminated $32.6 billion of California’s debt, which she was predominantly responsible for incurring. Some have argued that Su should be held accountable for the Employment Department’s rampant susceptibility to fraud, especially given that a significant fraction of the $900 billion paid out in national unemployment benefits was squandered through fraudulent claims, with California contributing to about 30% of this amount.

If you’ve been impacted by the issues presented in the article and want to contact EDD directly or to raise any issues or queries, please visit eddcaller.com. The website offers comprehensive pointers on a range of topics, including EDD customer service and how to get a hold of EDD. With eddcaller.com, you can find details on how to speak to someone at EDD, reach an agent at the EDD or get through to an EDD live person for your specific concerns.