Senator Requests Records on Welfare Fraud in Minnesota
Senator Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) asked the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and Governor Tim Walz for surveillance records on Tuesday, aiming to get a clearer picture of how nearly $9 billion was misappropriated through welfare fraud.
In a letter addressed to Walz and interim DHS secretary Shireen Gandhi, Johnson criticized Minnesota for its apparent failure in safeguarding taxpayer dollars. He stated that with the ongoing fraud issues in the state, accountability has become crucial.
Johnson, who leads the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, is pushing for a thorough explanation of how the integrity of Minnesota’s welfare programs deteriorated, especially given the numerous fraud scandals that have emerged lately.
The records Johnson requested include details on suspected or recorded fraud involving child care assistance or Medicaid services managed by the DHS, along with a comprehensive list of organizations that benefitted from various state and federal aid programs.
He is also interested in records from Walz’s decision in October 2025 to pause 14 Medicaid service categories deemed at high risk for fraud, requesting all communications between DHS and the governor’s office regarding this matter.
Previously, Johnson expressed intentions to utilize subpoena powers if needed to acquire records related to the widespread fraud accusations in Minnesota.
The senator has highlighted a report listing over 70 daycare centers in Minnesota that were paid more than $1 million each by the state in 2024, and he is asking for detailed records of any inspections or audits performed at these centers, along with the names of those who conducted the reviews.
“The public’s awareness of this extensive fraud increased after a YouTube video by investigative journalist Nick Shirley revealed that DHS-funded programs had sent around $111 million to fraudulent entities claiming to offer child care and medical services,” Johnson noted.
He further pointed out that normal oversight by DHS should have detected alarming signs regarding the integrity of programs at child care centers receiving excessively high payments based on their licensed capacity.
Given the evident lack of oversight, Johnson maintains that taxpayers deserve clarity on how their funds are being used.
He set a deadline of February 17 for state officials to respond to his information requests. Johnson has maintained that pressure must be applied on national institutions to disclose relevant records, expressing concern that this situation may be just the starting point.
