Today, we're diving into a major controversy surrounding Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who's found himself in hot water over a $250 million COVID-19 fraud scandal. This scandal has resurfaced with a vengeance, especially now that Walz has been tapped as a running mate for Kamala Harris on the 2024 Democratic ticket. So, what exactly happened, and why are critics pointing fingers at Walz? Let’s break it down.
Between 2022 and 2024, a whopping 70 people have been charged in connection with a fraud scheme that drained $250 million from Minnesota’s Feeding Our Future program. This program, which was intended to provide free meals to children and adults in need, instead became a target for fraudsters who allegedly siphoned off funds for personal luxuries like real estate, luxury goods, and even cryptocurrency.
CRIME on CRIME on CRIME‼️
Feeding Our Future trial Update: Juror Bribery Edition pic.twitter.com/sbI7jRUyrL— Center of the American Experiment (@MNThinkTank) July 1, 2024
Billy Glahn, an adjunct policy fellow with the Minnesota-based Center of the American Experiment, didn't mince words when he discussed the scandal with Fox News Digital. He questioned how the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) could let such a massive amount of money slip through the cracks. According to Glahn, "The buck has to stop somewhere," and for him, that somewhere is Governor Tim Walz. As the chief executive of the state, Walz is ultimately responsible for the actions of his appointees in the MDE, who Glahn argues failed to prevent the fraud.
The Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) released a report titled "Minnesota Department of Education: Oversight of Feeding Our Future," which paints a damning picture of the department’s handling of the situation. The report suggests that the MDE was aware of warning signs about Feeding Our Future even before the COVID-19 pandemic, yet failed to act. The report points out that MDE officials could have done more to prevent the staggering loss of $250 million in taxpayer funds.
Governor Walz and the people he directly hired and oversaw lost half a billion dollars to fraud in a few short years as governor.
Imagine fraud at that scale nationwide. If every state lost that much, the amount lost to fraud would be greater than the annual budgets of over 15…
— Joe Teirab (@JoeTeirab) August 6, 2024
Critics argue that this scandal is a reflection of broader issues with Walz’s leadership. Glahn and others have highlighted how some of the fraud suspects had ties to the Democratic Party through campaign contributions, raising concerns about whether political connections played a role in the lack of oversight.
Adding fuel to the fire, Joe Teirab, a Republican candidate for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, took to social media to slam Walz’s administration for what he claims is over half a billion dollars in lost funds due to fraud. Teirab’s criticism goes beyond the Feeding Our Future scandal, pointing to other instances of waste and fraud in child care programs, unemployment benefits, and more. He’s calling out the administration for what he sees as a failure to hold anyone accountable, with no state employees fired despite the massive losses.
As if that wasn’t enough, Walz’s handling of the state’s finances is under scrutiny too. Critics have pointed to an $18 billion surplus that was initially promised to be returned to taxpayers but was instead spent on other state initiatives. House Minority Leader Lisa Demuth has expressed concern over the state’s growing budget, which she argues is unsustainable.
Governor Walz’s office has responded to the criticism, stating that they appreciate the OLA’s work but also suggesting that some of the auditor’s recommendations may not be applicable, as the audits often come out years after the issues have been resolved. However, this response has done little to quiet the storm of criticism swirling around the governor.