MINNESOTA – A wide federal investigation into suspected fraud across Minnesota social services has hit a new peak. Whistleblowers inside state agencies, mayors from across Minnesota, and members of Congress are now tied into the same growing story.

Governor Tim Walz sits at the centre of it, with his administration under heavy fire for weak oversight that critics say let huge sums of public money slip away from federal child nutrition and Medicaid programmes.

The issue first made national news through the Feeding Our Future case, which alleges more than $250 million was stolen from pandemic meal funding. Since then, the focus has spread. Federal prosecutors now say fraud across state-run programmes could top $9 billion since 2018. Walz and state officials reject that number, calling it inflated and driven by politics.

The current crisis traces back to 2020, when emergency pandemic rules and looser checks reportedly opened the door to abuse. Prosecutors say the nonprofit Feeding Our Future and connected sites claimed to serve millions of meals.

Indictments allege that only a small share of those meals were actually provided, while the group and partners collected the reimbursements. More than 90 people have been charged, and dozens have been convicted. U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson called it “industrial-scale fraud.”

Federal and state reviews have also widened to 14 Medicaid programmes, including autism services and housing stabilisation. Investigators say they are seeing repeat patterns, such as false claims and suspect billing.

Whistleblowers in the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) claim their warnings were brushed aside, and they also allege evidence may have been destroyed to hide what was happening.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) opened a formal inquiry earlier this month. He says the Walz administration failed to act on early signs and hit back at staff who raised concerns. Comer said whistleblowers have stepped forward, and he plans to take sworn evidence from state workers.

Nearly 100 Minnesota Mayors Demand Answers

Local leaders have now taken a public stand. This week, 98 Minnesota mayors signed a letter pressing Walz and state lawmakers for answers and action. Crosslake Mayor Jackson Purfeerst led the effort. The letter points to “fraud, unchecked spending, and inconsistent fiscal management” in St. Paul. It warns that the damage is filtering down to towns and cities across the state.

The mayors also flagged a state surplus of $18 billion that has disappeared, with deficits now projected. They say residents are being squeezed through higher property taxes to cover unfunded mandates and missing revenue. The letter says families, pensioners, firms, and workers end up paying the price. It also points to weaker economic rankings and net out-migration.

South St. Paul Mayor Jimmy Francis said constituents feel “scared” about benefit freezes and a lack of clear answers. He framed it as a practical issue, not a party one. The letter urges tighter spending and tougher fraud controls, warning some communities could be “taxed out of Minnesota”.

Tim Walz Faces Deepening Pressure

Governor Walz has defended his record while admitting fraud happened “on my watch”. He says he is working to stop it and prevent repeats. His administration has appointed a fraud prevention director, ordered outside audits, and paused programmes seen as high risk.

Tim Walz has pushed back hard on the $9 billion estimate, saying it lacks support and is being used for political gain. He points instead to confirmed fraud in the tens of millions USA Today reports.

Critics, including Republicans and some whistleblowers, say the state moved too slowly even after warning signs appeared as far back as 2019. Federal steps have increased in recent weeks. The Small Business Administration stopped $5.5 million in funding to Minnesota. Meanwhile, proposed legislation called the “WALZ Act” would require investigations when programme costs jump sharply, according to Fox News.

Claims that some money may have reached overseas terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab have raised the stakes further. Walz says he supports investigations into any such allegations.

As more voices join in, from DHS insiders to mayors, the scandal is testing trust in public benefit systems. Walz is expected to seek a third term in 2026, and the political fallout could be significant. Local leaders say strained budgets could affect services people rely on, including public safety and road repairs, while federal scrutiny looks set to deepen.

One anonymous DHS source described the situation as “a cascade of systemic failures”, reflecting the frustration voiced by whistleblowers and critics alike. For now, many Minnesotans say they want clear answers, and they want them soon, as the investigation keeps expanding.

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WASHINGTON D.C. –  The United States has blocked five well-known Europeans from traveling to the country, saying they helped push American tech companies to take down or limit U.S. speech online. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the visa bans on Tuesday and said the move is meant to push back against what he called foreign attempts at “extraterritorial censorship.”

The action uses a policy rolled out earlier this year that allows the U.S. to deny entry to people accused of taking part in efforts to censor speech protected under U.S. law. European officials reacted fast, calling the bans a hit to sovereignty and warning that responses could follow.

The five people named include former EU Commissioner Thierry Breton, tied closely to the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), plus leaders from nonprofits that track online hate and disinformation.

Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers listed the individuals as: Thierry Breton; Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH); Clare Melford, head of the Global Disinformation Index (GDI); and Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, who lead the German group HateAid.

Rubio called them “radical activists and weaponized NGOs,” accusing them of supporting censorship efforts abroad that, in his view, have hit American speakers and U.S. companies. He also said the alleged activity could create “serious adverse foreign policy consequences” for the United States.

The bans also reflect the Trump administration’s long-running attacks on the EU’s DSA. Passed in 2022, the law requires big platforms to address illegal content, hate speech, and disinformation. U.S. officials say the way it gets enforced can pressure companies like X (formerly Twitter), Meta, and others to moderate content in ways that clash with First Amendment protections.

How the Digital Services Act Became the Flashpoint

The DSA has strained U.S. and EU ties since it was adopted. Supporters in Europe say it makes online spaces safer and forces platforms to act when content breaks the law. It also sets up reporting systems and allows regulators to fine companies that fail to comply.

Critics in Washington, including allies of President Trump and Elon Musk (who owns X), argue it can be used to silence conservative or dissenting views. Breton, while serving as the EU internal market commissioner, publicly warned X about possible enforcement actions tied to disinformation claims. Rogers called him the main driver of the DSA and accused him of using it to threaten major platforms.

The nonprofits named in the U.S. action, CCDH, GDI, and HateAid, have published reports grading platforms on hate speech and false or misleading content. Those reports have sometimes been linked to advertisers pulling spending or to public pressure for tougher moderation. U.S. officials say the groups help run coordinated efforts that cut off revenue and reduce the reach of American viewpoints.

Europe Pushes Back Hard on Rubio

Leaders across Europe condemned the move. French President Emmanuel Macron described the travel bans as intimidation meant to weaken Europe’s control over its own digital rules. He said France stands fully behind Breton and the others.

France’s foreign minister said the country “strongly condemns” the U.S. decision. Germany’s justice ministry voiced support for Ballon and von Hodenberg and called the bans “unacceptable.” The European Commission asked Washington for details and suggested it is ready to respond if the measures are not justified.

Breton replied on X with a short message aimed at Americans, saying censorship is not where they think it is. He also pointed out that the DSA passed with support from all 27 EU member states.

The organizations targeted also rejected the accusations. A GDI spokesperson called the U.S. action an authoritarian move that, in their view, amounts to government censorship. Ballon and von Hodenberg described the bans as repression designed to block European enforcement actions involving U.S. tech firms. They said they plan to keep working, even if the decision affects travel and family life.

What This Could Mean for U.S.-EU Relations

The visa bans add fuel to the Trump administration’s broader campaign against what it calls a “global censorship-industrial complex.” Rubio said more names could be added if foreign actors don’t change direction.

Analysts see the dispute as part of a larger split that also covers U.S. objections to European digital taxes and rules seen as aimed at American tech giants. The administration’s recent National Security Strategy criticized some European policies as limiting free expression.

Most European travelers can enter the U.S. through the Visa Waiver Program with online approval. Even so, these restrictions can flag the individuals in U.S. homeland security systems, which can stop travel.

EU officials have hinted at payback, including reciprocal restrictions or tougher DSA enforcement. Brussels argues the DSA applies inside Europe and does not regulate speech in the United States.

Reaction in the United States and Elsewhere

In the U.S., supporters of the administration praised the move as a defense of free speech. Elon Musk wrote on X that it was “so great.” Conservative voices also framed it as resistance to foreign interference in American debate.

Opponents said the policy is hypocritical and could chill speech in its own way. Some digital rights advocates argued the administration is trying to punish critics while claiming to protect open expression.

As the holiday week begins, the dispute highlights a widening gap between the U.S. approach to speech online and Europe’s focus on limiting harm. The State Department cited authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows visa denials tied to foreign policy concerns. Whether the bans slow European regulators or spark a tit-for-tat response remains unclear, but the strain on key alliances is now out in the open.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. –  As the year winds down, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are turning up the heat over Minnesota’s growing fraud scandal. Republican-led investigations are now focusing on Minnesota’s Democratic leadership after federal prosecutors described the case as one of the biggest welfare fraud schemes in US history.

Governor Tim Walz and Representative Ilhan Omar sit near the center of the political fight. Both are facing questions about past ties to people accused of taking more than $1 billion, with some estimates suggesting even higher losses.

Prosecutors say the money came from taxpayer-funded programs meant to support child nutrition, autism therapy, and housing help during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The case, which largely involves members of Minnesota’s Somali community, has become a national flashpoint. Federal indictments now cover more than 90 people, with convictions increasing and loss estimates rising.

Whistleblowers and prosecutors claim weak oversight under Walz’s administration gave fraudulent nonprofits and shell businesses room to grow. They say some groups billed for services that never happened, while state officials moved slowly and worried about racial backlash.

Photos Add Fuel to the Political Fight

Newly surfaced photos from December 2025 pushed the story back into the spotlight. The images show convicted fraudster Abdul Dahir Ibrahim, a Somali immigrant with prior convictions in Canada for asylum and welfare fraud, appearing with both Walz and Omar at public events.

Ibrahim was ordered deported in 2004, but stayed in the US. Prosecutors tied him to the Feeding Our Future case, a scheme that authorities say stole more than $250 million from federal child nutrition programs.

Neither Walz nor Omar has been charged with wrongdoing. Still, critics, including President Trump, have used the photos to attack their judgment and oversight.

Trump has repeatedly targeted both, calling Omar “garbage” and Walz “grossly incompetent” in cabinet meetings and public remarks. He also made harsh comments about the Somali community, which drew sharp backlash for inflammatory language.

Omar has pushed back publicly. She has said she returned donations from people later tied to the fraud years ago. She also says she was among the first to raise concerns about possible misuse of the programs.

On CBS’s Face the Nation, she rejected claims of terrorism links, calling those allegations baseless and saying any such connection would reflect a “failure of the FBI.” Walz has said he welcomes federal scrutiny, while accusing Republicans of using the timing to score political points.

House Republicans Expand the Congressional Investigation

House Republicans, led by Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.), opened a formal congressional investigation in early December. Comer demanded records from Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

The requests focus on why warning signs were missed, and whether any data was deleted to hide the scope of the alleged fraud. Comer has blamed the Walz administration for poor management and claims officials restarted payments to suspicious groups after pressure.

The inquiry has widened, and some Republicans want Walz to testify before Congress. A few Democrats have signaled that accountability matters, although most argue the current push is partisan. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) went further on the Senate floor.

He accused Walz and Omar of helping create conditions for the schemes and said they defended people involved. He also pointed to the conviction of one of Omar’s former staffers in a related fraud case.

Federal actions are also piling up. Treasury investigators are looking at whether any stolen funds moved overseas, including potential links to al-Shabaab. The Small Business Administration has paused some Minnesota funding. A new proposal, the WALZ Act from Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), would require reviews of programs that show sudden spending spikes, and it points directly to the Minnesota failures.

Omar Faces Rising Political Heat

The controversy has also put Omar’s political future in the spotlight. The fraud story has close ties to her district, which includes the largest Somali community in the country. Past claims about immigration and marriage fraud, which Omar has denied and which have not been proven in court, have resurfaced. Trump administration officials revived the issue, and border czar Tom Homan said reviews were underway into her naturalization process.

Some conservative figures, including Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.), have called for Omar’s expulsion from Congress or even deportation. Legal experts say denaturalization requires proof of willful fraud in federal court, and no charges have been filed. Omar has called the claims “bigoted lies” and described Trump’s focus on her as a “creepy obsession.” She has said she plans to keep doing her job.

Supporters point to her early warnings about fraud risk and her returned donations as signs of good faith. Still, with the Minnesota fraud scandal dominating local headlines, political observers see possible pressure in future primaries or general elections. Republicans continue to paint Omar as a symbol of lax oversight.

What the Minnesota Scandal Means for Oversight and Immigration

The Minnesota case has exposed weak points in pandemic-era spending, where funds moved quickly, and guardrails often lagged. Omar has said in interviews that rushed programs created openings for fraud. Others point to a mix of issues, including slow bureaucracy, fear of being accused of racism, and challenges tied to integration.

Walz has said the failure happened on his watch. He has also promised stronger enforcement and tighter controls.

In Congress, the case is fueling calls for tougher oversight of federal aid programs. As investigations move forward, both parties face pressure to rebuild trust in social services. Republicans see an opening to tie Democrats to major losses. Defenders warn against blaming entire immigrant communities for the crimes of a smaller group.

As 2025 closes, the Feeding Our Future fallout continues. Indictments are still coming, and congressional hearings are likely ahead. The final impact could shape Minnesota politics and influence national debates on welfare, immigration, and accountability. Taxpayers are still waiting to see how much money can be recovered from what prosecutors have called an “industrial-scale” betrayal.

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