October Term 2024 · Docket 23-1127
Does the False Claims Act cover telecom funds paid by the government?
Wisconsin Bell argues the False Claims Act does not apply to E-rate funds. The government says the law covers these payments.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Ms. Ho argued the False Claims Act protects government funds. She said it covers requests for money the government provides.
Mr. Singh argued the government provides the money. He said the administrator pays on the government's behalf.
Justice Jackson questioned the government's cost-saving argument. She noted the government collects funds to operate the program.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 53-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-39
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the False Claims Act. It asks if the law covers money the government collects and pays out for a federal program.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 53-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 4, 2024.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-41
What each side wants
Wisconsin Bell wants the Court to say the False Claims Act does not apply to E-rate payments.
The government wants the Court to say the False Claims Act applies to these payments.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 53-43
What each side says
Wisconsin Bell argues the government does not provide the funds. It says the money belongs to the program participants.
The government argues it collects and controls the funds. It says the law protects the public fisc in this context.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 53-43
What the justices asked
Justice Jackson asked why the government is not collecting money for a public purpose.
Justice Jackson asked why the public fisc is not at risk in either scenario.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-39
Why it matters
The outcome defines the reach of federal fraud laws. It determines whether the government can sue telecom companies for false claims in this program.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 53-43
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-39
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 53-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 53-43 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 53-43
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.