Overview
- House Oversight Chairman James Comer signaled subpoenas if Minnesota officials do not comply with requests in a widening inquiry into pandemic-era fraud tied to nonprofits and state-run programs.
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent launched a separate review of Minnesota’s oversight, following public claims that the network constitutes the largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the country.
- Federal prosecutors say Feeding Our Future fraudulently routed more than $240 million from the child-nutrition program using shell companies and fake rosters, with proceeds spent on luxury goods and real estate in the U.S. and overseas.
- Authorities report 87 people charged and 61 convictions to date as cases expanded beyond child-nutrition claims to Medicaid abuse in Housing Stabilization Services and autism therapy billing.
- State auditors cite a 2021 lawsuit and court orders that limited the education department’s actions, while Gov. Tim Walz’s office says it has added audits, hired investigators, and created a Bureau of Criminal Apprehension fraud unit.