Interim Update
Exposing and Fighting Fraud in Minnesota
Minnesotans work hard, pay their taxes, and deserve to trust that their dollars are used wisely. Yet time and again, we continue to see shocking reports of fraud and waste inside Minnesota’s state government. These scandals not only drain taxpayer dollars, they betray the trust of the very people we are here to serve.
As a legislator and as a school principal, accountability is something I take very seriously. We must ensure every dollar is used effectively, whether it’s in a classroom, a local program, or a state agency. Unfortunately, what we are seeing in Minnesota is the opposite: billions lost, broken oversight systems, and a Governor unwilling to act.
Fraud on an Alarming Scale
Just the other week, Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson held a press conference that laid bare the alarming reality: Minnesota's government programs have become so deeply corrupted that fraudulent organizations have overtaken legitimate ones.
Thompson also said his office has already prosecuted over half a billion dollars in fraud, but even that is just scratching the surface. In a recent interview with MPR, he estimated the total losses are “in the billions of dollars,” suggesting Minnesota has crossed the $2 billion mark. To put that in perspective, under Governor Walz’s roughly 2,500 days in office, that is about $800,000 stolen from taxpayers every single day.
A Pattern of Waste and Abuse
This is not an isolated issue. Over the past few years, we've seen:
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Feeding Our Future scandal: $250 million stolen from federal child nutrition funds.
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Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP): At least $100 million in fraudulent claims.
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EIDBI benefit: Medicaid billing ballooned from $6 million to nearly $192 million, much of it fraudulent.
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Medicaid addiction treatment fraud: Millions wasted on sham recovery programs.
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Housing Stabilization Services: Estimated to cost $2.6 million, costs skyrocketed to over $100 million annually in mostly fraudulent payouts.
Despite repeated warnings, Governor Walz and House Democrats have blocked meaningful reforms, leaving taxpayers on the hook while criminals exploit broken systems.
The Fraud Committee: Leading the Fight for Accountability
This year, House Republicans created the Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, the first of its kind in Minnesota. Our mission is simple: hold government accountable. We are holding hearings, questioning agency leaders, and shining light on where programs have failed.
Unlike the Governor’s executive order, which leaves agencies to police their own misconduct, our committee is pushing for an independent Office of Inspector General with subpoena power and law enforcement authority. Other states already use this model effectively, and Minnesota taxpayers deserve nothing less.
The creation of this committee shows that Republicans are serious about ending waste, fraud, and abuse. And our work is only getting started.
Where We Go From Here
Fraud isn’t just about wasted money. Every dollar stolen is a dollar that should have gone to a classroom, a nursing home, or a family in need. When sham providers exploit programs, it leaves vulnerable Minnesotans without the services they were promised.
Minnesotans deserve leaders who will stand up for them, protect their tax dollars, and restore trust in government. I will continue to fight for independent oversight, accountability, and reforms that put people before bureaucracy.
Thank You
Thank you to everyone who has reached out to share your frustrations and ideas. Your input matters, and it helps me push for the real reforms Minnesotans are asking for. Together, we can stop fraud, protect taxpayers, and ensure that state government actually serves the people of Minnesota.
Let’s keep moving forward.
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