U.S. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) called for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to face criminal charges if evidence emerged suggesting that he covered up the extent of welfare fraud in his state.
The comments relate to ongoing investigations into widespread fraud in Minnesota’s social services programs, particularly those involving child nutrition, childcare, housing assistance, and autism services.
While speaking with Newsmax, Emmer addressed allegations of wrongdoing on the part of Governor Walz and his administration.
“If Tim Walz knew, if these whistleblowers are confirmed that they’re real and that what they’re saying can be documented, he should be prosecuted,” the senior House Republican said. “[Attorney General] Keith Ellison should be prosecuted. Others within the administration should be prosecuted.”
Emmer emphasized the scale of the alleged fraud, noting estimates of up to $9 billion in losses from federal and state taxpayer funds. “You’re talking about $9 billion in U.S. taxpayer and Minnesota taxpayer money — by the way, millions of it going back to Somalia to a known terrorist group, al-Shabaab. It’s criminal,” he said.
The congressman went on to praise independent journalist Nick Shirley, whose viral report documented seemingly inactive childcare centers that are currently receiving millions in taxpayer funds.
“Hats off to Nick Shirley and his colleague. He found more in one day than Tim Walz has found in seven years. And the reason? He was looking for it,” Emmer said.
The congressman further accused the Walz administration of ignoring warning signs about the extent of the problem. “Tim Walz has been looking the other way, and his administration has been looking the other way while these people have been bilking billions out of Minnesota,” Emmer continued.
The fraud scandals in Minnesota primarily stem from the Feeding Our Future case, a nonprofit accused of stealing approximately $250 million from a federal child nutrition program during the COVID-19 pandemic by submitting false claims for meals that were never served. As of late 2025, federal authorities have charged 78 individuals in this scheme alone, with over 50 pleading guilty and several convicted at trial, including the organization’s founder.
Many of those charged are of Somali descent.
Broader investigations have expanded to 14 programs administered by the state, including Medicaid-funded services. Federal prosecutors have issued preliminary estimates suggesting that half or more of roughly $18 billion spent on these programs since 2018 may have been fraudulent, potentially totaling $9 billion or more in losses.
This includes allegations of billing for nonexistent services in childcare, housing stabilization, autism therapy, and other areas. Some reports indicate funds were transferred overseas, with concerns raised about links to terrorist groups.
Federal agencies, including the FBI recently surged resources to the state, with Director Kash Patel describing prior arrests as “just the tip of a very large iceberg.”
