A stunning accusation has erupted in Minnesota, with over 400 employees of the Department of Human Services (DHS) directly blaming Governor Tim Walz for a massive fraud scandal and alleging a deliberate silencing of those who tried to sound the alarm.
These DHS staff, representing a significant portion of the department’s workforce, claim they repeatedly warned Walz about widespread fraud occurring within state programs, hoping for collaboration to stop the theft. Instead, they allege a disturbing response: systematic retaliation against whistleblowers.
The accusations detail a pattern of intimidation, including increased monitoring, direct threats, and attempts to discredit legitimate fraud reports. Furthermore, the group asserts Walz actively undermined the authority of the Office of the Legislative Auditor, effectively allowing agencies to ignore critical audit findings and recommendations.
This internal revolt coincides with a sprawling federal investigation into one of the nation’s largest COVID-era fraud schemes – the “Feeding Our Future” case. Prosecutors have now charged 78 individuals, with over 50 convictions already secured, in a scheme that allegedly siphoned over $250 million from a federally-funded child nutrition program.
What began as a seemingly isolated incident of pandemic-era fraud has now blossomed into a far-reaching concern for both state and federal authorities. Investigators have uncovered a pattern of similar schemes targeting Minnesota’s social service programs over the past five years.
The fraud appears heavily concentrated within parts of Minnesota’s Somali community, with numerous individuals accused of creating shell companies to bill state agencies for services never rendered. Millions of dollars are alleged to have vanished into these fraudulent claims.
Adding a chilling dimension to the case, reports suggest some of the stolen funds may have been transferred to Somalia, potentially reaching the terror group Al-Shabaab. While this claim, originating from unnamed federal counterterrorism sources, hasn’t yet surfaced in official charges, it raises the stakes dramatically.
Governor Walz recently addressed the fraud publicly, stating it “undermines trust in government” and jeopardizes vital programs. He vowed that anyone found guilty of fraud, “no matter where you come from,” would face imprisonment. However, his words ring hollow for the hundreds of DHS employees who claim he ignored their warnings and punished those who dared to speak out.
The unfolding scandal promises to have lasting repercussions, not only for those directly involved in the fraud but also for the future of accountability and transparency within Minnesota’s government.
