Overview
- Health and Human Services halted child care disbursements to Minnesota and imposed stricter payment verification, including detailed documentation and receipt requirements.
- Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth and Families reported children were present at eight of nine inspected centers this week, with one site not yet open when visited, and said four centers remain under review.
- Federal agencies expanded inquiries following the viral video, with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security increasing operations and the White House crediting the exposé for accelerating a broader fraud crackdown that now includes SBA and CMS reviews.
- Some providers say they have faced harassment, threats and vandalism since the video circulated, and officials warned that unvetted allegations and confrontations can jeopardize safety and hinder investigations.
- Conservative activists are pressing for similar checks in Washington state, where the attorney general acknowledged complaints and cautioned that alleged doorstep confrontations are not investigations and could lead to charges.