On Friday, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins delivered a stern message to Minnesota Democratic leaders, stating that the era of “giving to thieves” is over. This announcement coincided with reports of widespread fraud in the state.
In a social media update, Rollins highlighted that the Trump administration has uncovered a significant fraud scheme in Minnesota and Minneapolis, indicating that “billions of dollars” were being misappropriated by fraudsters.
She stated:
That’s enough! The Trump administration has taken action against massive fraud occurring in Minnesota and Minneapolis, where fraudsters have siphoned off billions. The official in charge seems uninterested in addressing the situation.
As of today, federal financial awards for Minnesota and Minneapolis are suspended immediately until there is clear evidence that the fraudulent activities have stopped. No more handing over funds to dishonest individuals. It’s time to clean up the Minnesota swamp and prioritize American taxpayers.
Rollins expressed in a letter to Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey that the widespread fraud related to federal benefit programs in both Minnesota and Minneapolis shows that federal resources require more oversight and accountability.
She referred to the $250 million “Feeding Our Future” initiative and raised concerns about alleged fraud tied to the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program and childcare centers.
“While we don’t yet know the complete extent of the fraud in Minnesota, it’s evident that under your leadership—or lack thereof—fraudsters have found a way to misuse federal funds and take advantage of American taxpayers without consequences,” she continued. “This necessitates federal intervention to safeguard taxpayer dollars until suitable protections are put in place.”
According to reports, Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, mentioned earlier that Minnesota officials should be scrutinized concerning the fraud allegations, describing it as a “clear dereliction of duty.”
Oz also warned that if state leaders do not tackle the problem, they might face a loss of federal funding.
Citizen journalist Nick Shirley, alongside his team, revealed significant instances of fraud connected to fraudulent daycare and medical entities associated with the state’s Somali community.
“Here’s the entire 42 minutes my crew and I used to expose Minnesota fraud. This could be my most crucial work so far. We uncovered over $110 million in a single day. It was exciting and caught fire quickly. It’s time to hold these corrupt politicians and scammers accountable. We all work hard and pay too much in taxes. This cheating has to end,” he noted in a video caption.
Governor Walz later labeled Shirley as a “far-right YouTuber” and a “paranoid conspiracy theorist.”
