Minnesota Governor Walz’s Role in ‘Feeding Our Future’ Fraud Case Questioned

Federal Prosecutors, Not State Officials, Led Minnesota Fraud Case Despite Walz’s Claims

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently made claims about his role in prosecuting a major fraud scheme that have come under scrutiny. During a November 30 interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” host Kristen Welker questioned Walz about a massive fraud scandal involving the nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which received federal funding to feed low-income children during the pandemic.

When asked if he took responsibility for failing to stop the fraud in Minnesota, Walz responded, “Well, certainly, I take responsibility for putting people in jail. Governors don’t get to just talk theoretically. We have to solve problems.”

However, this statement creates a misleading impression that state officials led the prosecution effort. In reality, federal prosecutors spearheaded the investigation and brought charges against the perpetrators in what former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland called “the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme.”

The scandal began unfolding in early 2021 when the FBI notified the Minnesota Department of Education about kickback allegations involving Feeding Our Future. Federal prosecutors eventually charged 78 defendants, most of Somali descent, with stealing approximately $250 million in federal funds meant to feed children during the pandemic. The defendants allegedly spent the money on luxury cars, real estate, jewelry, and international vacations.

When asked for evidence supporting Walz’s claim that he was responsible for the convictions, spokesperson Claire Lancaster said, “Prosecutions don’t materialize out of thin air.” State officials pointed to contributions from Minnesota agencies, including the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which provided forensic testing on evidence such as fingerprint identification in a juror bribery scheme related to the case.

However, media reports and official records tell a different story. The Star Tribune reported in 2022 that the FBI had to build its case from scratch, obtaining records from hundreds of bank accounts. The newspaper found that “Minnesota officials provided federal authorities with little or no evidence” that Feeding Our Future misappropriated government money.

Furthermore, a 2024 state legislative audit determined that the Minnesota Department of Education provided “inadequate oversight” and “could have taken more decisive action sooner” to prevent the fraud.

Mark Osler, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis and former federal prosecutor, told PolitiFact that while it made sense for federal authorities to lead such a complex case involving federal funds, “The underlying issue isn’t really punishing people later, it is detecting the fraud before it became so large and stopping it.”

The fraud scandal recently became a flashpoint in national politics when former President Donald Trump cited it as justification for ending Temporary Protected Status for Somalis in Minnesota. In a November 21 post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing.”

This claim appears to reference conservative activist reports suggesting Somalis stole money for terrorism, allegations that lack substantive evidence. Immigration lawyers have noted that it’s not possible to revoke Temporary Protected Status on a state-by-state basis. Moreover, of the estimated 100,000 people of Somali descent living in Minnesota, most are U.S. citizens who arrived in the 1990s fleeing civil war.

The scope of fraud in Minnesota may actually be larger than initially reported. Acting U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson told local media in July that the total fraud could exceed $1 billion when investigations are complete. In September, federal prosecutors charged additional defendants in schemes misusing housing funding and money intended for autism spectrum disorder services.

While state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agents continue to work with federal investigators on these ongoing cases, the evidence indicates that federal authorities, not state officials under Governor Walz, were primarily responsible for investigating and prosecuting the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.