Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is facing fresh controversy as following a pandemic-era scandal that has resurfaced. According to reports, a $250 million pandemic relief fraud scandal occurred under Walz’s leadership, involving the misuse of taxpayer funds intended to go toward child nutrition programs. The incident has drawn into question Walz’s leadership capabilities.
Reportedly, the fraud occurred in 2020 when the Minnesota nonprofit organization Feeding Our Future (FOF) took advantage of resources intended to provide relief to children struggling with food insecurity amid the challenges of the pandemic. The organization allegedly exaggerated the number of meals it would be providing to children in need, falsely reporting these figures to the Department of Education (MDE). As a result, FOF received approximately $250 million in federal funding.
Walz previously addressed the fraud, which has been described as the “greatest grift in U.S. history,” accepting responsibility as it occurred under his leadership. According to the findings of a legislative auditor, “actions and inactions” by the Department of Education led to the exploitation of the taxpayer-funded resources.
However, Walz maintained that there was no wrongdoing at the state level. “There’s not a single state employee that was implicated in doing anything that was illegal. They simply didn’t do as much due diligence as they should have,” said the governor. “So, there’s been leadership changes in these organizations since that time, and we have new leadership in sense the certainly over at the Department of Education.”
Earlier this month, The American Tribune reported on developments surrounding the fraud allegations, where Walz was served a subpoena amid an ongoing investigation into the state’s handling of the scandal. The U.S House Committee on Education and the Workforce, led by Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) requested that Walz turn over any relevant documents and communications related his administration’s involvement with the program.
The subpoena from the Committee on Education and the Workforce stated, “The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce (Committee) is engaged in ongoing oversight of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) and the Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) administration of federal child nutrition programs (FCNP) and Feeding Our Future (FOF).”
The letter from Foxx added, “As the chief executive and the highest-ranking official in Minnesota, you are responsible for the MDE and its administration of FCNPs. Article V Section 3 of the Constitution of the State of Minnesota which lays out the powers and duties of the governor, states in part that the governor “may require the opinion in writing of the principal officer in each of the executive departments upon any subject relating to his duties,” and “he shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”
“Statements in the press by you and your representatives indicate that you and other executive officers were involved, or had knowledge of, MDE’s administration of the FCNP and responsibilities and actions regarding the massive fraud. When you were asked about your decision of not holding agencies accountable and if MDE employees would be disciplined, you replied, “This wasn’t malfeasance.” You also stated, “There’s not a single state employee that was implicated in doing anything that was illegal. They simply didn’t do as much due diligence as they should’ve.” According to press reports, however, one of your spokespersons said your administration “has already made many of the corrective actions suggested by the OLA [Office of the Legislative Auditor] and taken ‘strong steps to find and eliminate any remaining vulnerabilities in government programs,” the subpoena continued.
Watch the veterans sound off on Walz for allegedly lying about his military service below:
