Education Secretary Calls for Minnesota Governor’s Resignation Amid Fraud Claims
Education Secretary Linda McMahon is urging the resignation of Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) due to significant reports of educational fraud in Minnesota’s university system.
In a letter addressed to Walz on Monday, McMahon emphasized that he has been in office since 2019 and during that time, his apparent negligence regarding oversight and the welfare system has drawn fraudsters from various places, especially Somalia.
She pointed out that a staggering 1,834 “ghost students” have been identified in Minnesota, who collectively received $12.5 million in grants and loans funded by taxpayers.
Continuing her message, McMahon expressed her concerns about Walz’s failure to fulfill his responsibilities and urged him to step down to allow for more effective leadership.
“Earlier this year, we discovered that fraudulent college applicants—particularly in Minnesota—are exploiting the federal higher education system to secure funds for college access,” she noted.
McMahon described these fraudsters as “ghost students,” as their identities are unverified, with many not residing in the U.S. or simply not existing at all. The ghost students siphoned off funds from the federal government, partially distributing them to colleges while pocketing the remainder without attending classes.
To combat this issue, the Department of Education has implemented stricter fraud regulations, including mandatory background checks for specific first-time student applicants. Their new system has reportedly blocked over a billion dollars in attempted fraud by scammers and coordinated international fraud groups.
Interestingly, even notable lawmakers from the state, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, have been implicated in exploiting taxpayer funds through support for broad student loan cancellations, a move she has openly acknowledged would benefit her directly, despite her own substantial taxpayer-funded salary.
As the call for Walz’s resignation gained momentum, a petition on Change.org garnered roughly 4,491 signatures advocating for his departure, alongside addresses directed at Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Secretary of State Steve Simon. The petition argues that a change in leadership is necessary to restore the bond between the government and the electorate.
On a related note, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced plans for a Geographic Targeting Order (GTO) that would impose heightened reporting requirements on certain financial service entities. This decision follows allegations that funds from Minnesota’s taxpayer resources may have been redirected by the Somali community to support the extremist group al-Shabab.
Bessent stated, “This important tool is used to ensure that information about such illegal activity is immediately reported to authorities and shared with our law enforcement partners.”
In addition, the Department of Labor is set to review state unemployment insurance programs in light of reports surrounding fraud rings targeting welfare systems.
