Approximately 9 billion dollars—this amount has reportedly been misappropriated in a Minnesota fraud operation during Governor Tim Walz’s tenure. To complicate matters, millions were supposedly pushed into Somalia, making them vulnerable to al-Shabaab militants.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on this situation.
Comer promises to expand the Minnesota fraud investigation to other states as more scrutiny arises.
Many of the scammers, primarily Somali, exploited various state welfare programs, diverting funds that were initially meant to support the community. This included assistance for children through food and nutrition programs during COVID-19, as well as funds for fake autism centers and empty childcare facilities. It seems that under Tim Walz’s oversight, these scams flourished at the expense of hardworking taxpayers.
And, honestly, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Nourishing our future: The nonprofit Feeding Our Future has swindled a staggering $250 million in federal funds intended for children during the pandemic, marking it as one of the most significant COVID-19 fraud cases in the country.
So far, 78 individuals have been indicted, with about 90% being Somali nationals. Allegations against a Minneapolis grocery owner include misusing $1 million in federal nutrition money for personal expenses, like credit card bills.
Housing Stability Services Program: Initially estimated at $2.6 million annually when it launched in 2020, by 2024 the program had disbursed $100 million in claims—nearly tenfold the original estimate. The Minnesota Department of Human Services shut it down in late October 2025 due to rampant fraud, resulting in eight indictments.
Autism services: A Somali woman admitted guilt in a scheme that siphoned off $14 million for a bogus autism center. Her group targeted Somali families, enrolling children for services regardless of actual need. In Walz’s Minnesota, barriers to access welfare seem almost nonexistent, allowing fraudulent programs to prosper. By the time they were called out, the autism diagnosis rate among Somali 4-year-olds was alarmingly high—over three times the state average. Medicaid claims for autism ballooned from $3 million in 2018 to around $400 million in 2023, with numerous clinics now under investigation.
Nursery school: Taxpayer money, to the tune of four million dollars, was funneled into a center that could barely manage basic spelling on its sign. This center has racked up 95 violations from the state welfare department between 2019 and 2023. Independent journalist Nick Shirley discovered that many daycare facilities receiving significant taxpayer funding were completely unoccupied.
The audacity and scope of this fraud made it nearly impossible for the Walz administration, including the lieutenant governor and attorney general, to be unaware. For over three years, I, alongside Minnesota Republicans, have voiced concerns over this issue. The response has largely been deception and inaction from Democratic senators, the Biden administration, and their media allies.
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Individuals like Noem, Bessent, Duffy, and others have raised alarms and begun investigations. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer also plans to conduct hearings soon with Minnesota leaders, including Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison, to discuss failures and seek accountability.
Recently, the Small Business Administration (SBA) prohibited Minnesota scammers from access to all SBA loan programs. The Department of Health and Human Services has paused federal childcare funding for Minnesota due to fraudulent activities and is contemplating legislation to denaturalize and deport Somalis implicated in these scams.
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Let’s be clear: Tim Walz’s decision to withdraw from the gubernatorial race does not absolve him or his administration of responsibility. Those who committed these crimes should face serious consequences. Somalis involved should indeed face denaturalization and deportation. Legislative action is critical to prevent such widespread fraud from happening again.
The American public is rightfully outraged. Minnesotans deserve better than this. I think it’s fair to say that, thanks to President Trump, there’s finally some accountability emerging from this situation.
