John,
I hope you and your loved ones had a happy and safe New Year. We face many hurdles in 2026 and the most pressing thus far is the festering rot that is Minnesota’s fraud crisis. I’m kicking off the new year tackling this fraud, demanding answers, and working to hold those responsible accountable.
The U.S. House Oversight Committee is currently investigating Minnesota's massive fraud crisis, pressing Governor Walz to explain how this abuse occurred. Unfortunately, instead of welcoming transparency as any good public servant would, Walz dismissed the investigation as a “circus,” an insult to Minnesotans and, frankly, all taxpayers who want to know where their money went. When billions of dollars vanish, we must act, root out the fraud, and hold those responsible to the fullest extent of the law. I fully support the Oversight Committee’s work to expose the truth, identify failures, and restore basic safeguards. Minnesotans deserve answers, not deflection, and leaders who take fraud seriously instead of brushing it off.
And because this administration has shown a lack of curiosity or responsibility, U.S. House Republicans are taking action. Under Governor Tim Walz, basic safeguards were stripped away during the pandemic, allowing massive fraud to explode across Minnesota’s human services programs—possibly the most pervasive fraud our country has ever seen. When federal officials later asked for SNAP data to investigate that fraud, Walz’s administration stonewalled instead of cooperating. That is why I am cosponsoring the SNAP Data Transparency and Oversight Act. This bill requires states to provide beneficiary-level SNAP records to the USDA within 30 days of a lawful request and imposes real consequences when states refuse to comply. Transparency should not and will not be optional when taxpayer dollars are at stake, and this legislation ensures aid reaches families and not criminals gaming the system.
I also joined my fellow Members of Minnesota’s Congressional delegation in formally demanding that Governor Walz fully cooperate with the FBI, DHS, the Department of Labor, and every federal agency investigating fraud in Minnesota, and immediately comply with the U.S. House Oversight Committee by turning over all requested documents. We further demanded that he recuse himself from any investigation into this fraud so Minnesotans can trust the process is fair, independent, and transparent. When billions go missing and a governor responds by stonewalling, Minnesotans have every right to be angry. I’m not willing to look the other way while taxpayers get ripped off and families pay the price for failed leadership.
