Former officials from the Minnesota Department of Education are facing increased scrutiny amid the widening “Feeding Our Future” scandal that involves Governor Tim Walz. This comes alongside President Donald Trump’s announcement of new measures aimed at combating fraud within the state.
Feeding Our Future, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing meals for low-income children, is accused of illegally diverting over $250 million in taxpayer money to various shell companies. These funds were allegedly used for luxury items like high-end cars, real estate, international trips, and extravagant jewelry, according to federal prosecutors. The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) was responsible for approving and monitoring these programs.
Back in 2018, MDE conducted the sole administrative review of Feeding Our Future’s Child and Adult Food Program Operations. A 120-page report from Minnesota State Assembly Auditor Judy Randall and Director of Special Reviews Katherine Theisen indicated that MDE “failed to act on warning signs that were apparent before the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing fraud allegations.”
Brenda Cassellius headed the MDE until January 2019, after which Walz appointed Mary Katherine Ricker as her successor. Cassellius’ tenure coincided with Feeding Our Future’s initial approval and administrative review. Ricker’s time at MDE was notably during a period of the program’s impressive growth, even as FOF lost its federal tax-exempt status.
As of June 2024, the MDE had only performed one administrative review of FOF, although they had reportedly received at least 30 complaints about the nonprofit during the tenures of Cassellius and Ricker.
The auditors pointed out that “state agencies are required to promptly investigate complaints and irregularities regarding CACFP and SFSP.” However, many investigations conducted by MDE were deemed inadequate, particularly concerning fraud allegations. While there were written procedures, they lacked comprehensiveness and failed to tackle significant issues.
Furthermore, MDE even had the audacity to ask Feeding Our Future to investigate complaints about itself—a clear conflict of interest. In June 2020, despite FOF’s loss of nonprofit status, MDE approved its application for the Summer Food Service Program without confirming this critical detail.
Under Ricker’s oversight, payments to FOF skyrocketed by 2,800% from fiscal year 2020 to 2021. An incident cited in the audit revealed that a vendor alerted the state about FOF refusing to issue rebates, after which FOF ended its contract with that vendor. Although MDE reportedly ceased payments to FOF at one point, the group later filed a lawsuit alleging racial discrimination. A Ramsey County district judge ruled that Minnesota couldn’t halt payments until fraud was proven.
Current Education Commissioner Willie Jett II stated in a public hearing that the Education Department took the proper steps by notifying law enforcement and emphasized that accountability lies with those who committed the fraud. He has since promised to enhance oversight and even initiated the establishment of an Office of Inspector General.
While MDE was overseeing Feeding Our Future, other methods of exploitation emerged within programs managed by the Department of Human Services (DHS). In September, Asha Hassan, also implicated in this fraud, was charged with federal wire fraud in relation to a $14 million scheme targeting state autism programs.
U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson noted the pervasive nature of these fraud schemes, pointing out that they create a complex web of deception that drains billions from taxpayers.
Fox News Digital reached out to Milwaukee Public Schools, where Cassellius currently serves as superintendent, along with the Albert Shanker Institute for comments on Ricker’s involvement.
