Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) is facing mounting criticism due to the resurfacing of a $250 million pandemic relief fraud scandal that occurred during his administration. The controversy involves significant misuse of funds from a taxpayer-funded child nutrition program and has intensified scrutiny of Walz’s leadership and the state’s inability to prevent one of the largest frauds in U.S. history. As the far-left Democrat is now being considered for higher office as Kamala Harris’ vice president, should she win, critics are calling for accountability for the scandal that unfolded under his watch.
According to a Fox News report, the fraud took place in 2020 when the Minnesota-based nonprofit Feeding Our Future (FOF) exploited a pandemic relief program designed to provide meals to children. FOF significantly inflated the number of meals it claimed to serve, creating shell companies to falsely report these figures to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE), which oversaw the program. As a result, FOF and its affiliates received $250 million in federal funds. Federal prosecutors have described it as the “greatest grift in U.S. history.”
The scandal came to light when federal authorities exposed the fraudulent scheme, resulting in several convictions. Although Walz has acknowledged that the fraud occurred during his tenure as governor, critics contend that his administration failed to implement adequate oversight, enabling the theft of millions of dollars intended to provide meals for children during the pandemic.
A crucial revelation from the investigation points to significant lapses in accountability within the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). According to the Fox News report, the MDE had requested Feeding Our Future to investigate complaints about itself—a move critics liken to letting a defendant judge their own trial. Additionally, the department reportedly relaxed oversight requirements for high-risk sponsors, facilitating the fraudulent scheme. The report also mentions that MDE was reluctant to intervene due to Feeding Our Future’s claims that it was being unfairly targeted for serving minority communities, a charge officials feared might be construed as discriminatory.
The Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor’s report revealed the extensive nature of the fraud and highlighted systemic failures in safeguarding taxpayer dollars. The $250 million misappropriated from funds intended to support children has sparked outrage among Minnesotans. Critics emphasize that this money could have made a significant difference for struggling families during the pandemic. The report estimates that the stolen funds amounted to over $1,600 for each child living in poverty in Minnesota.
While the fraud occurred years ago, the issue is now resurfacing as Walz’s political profile grows on the national stage. Democrats are placing their hopes on Walz, a former high school teacher and football coach, to counter mounting criticism of their policies. This effort is marked by a noticeable sense of urgency, especially in Pennsylvania, where recent polls show Harris either narrowly leading or tied with Trump, despite her efforts to highlight economic successes.
But this recently resurfaced scandal won’t help. He has already faced backlash for several lies regarding his 24-year Army National Guard career, where he claimed to have achieved a rank he did not earn, that he was in combat when he wasn’t, and that he quit the military when his unit got orders to deploy to Iraq rather than deploy with his men.
Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.