Overview
- The House Oversight Committee released a 54-page interim report alleging Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison knew for years about widespread fraud, citing roughly $300 million in child nutrition losses and up to $9 billion tied to Medicaid-related programs.
- At a contentious hearing, both officials denied complicity and emphasized ongoing prosecutions, while Republicans pressed them on timelines and a disputed claim that a 2021 court order forced resumed payments to Feeding Our Future.
- Chairman James Comer said the panel has interviewed more than 30 whistleblowers and shared its findings with the Justice Department, adding that criminal referrals are possible based on additional evidence.
- Following the hearing, Walz and Ellison declined to answer reporters’ questions about why the fraud was not detected sooner.
- Federal leverage intensified as the Trump administration withheld about $260 million in Medicaid payments to Minnesota and warned of further deferrals unless the state adopts stricter anti-fraud controls.