State Sen. Michelle Benson reacts at a news conference on April 10, 2019, at the Minnesota State Capitol in St. Paul to a report by the state’s legislative auditor on combatting fraud in Minnesota’s Child Care Assistance Program.
Steve Karnowski/AP
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Steve Karnowski/AP
President Trump’s administration made an announcement on Tuesday freezing child care funds to Minnesota and calling for an audit of fraud schemes related to government programs.
Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill stated on social media that the action was taken in response to widespread fraud in Minnesota and across the nation.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz responded, accusing Trump of using the issue for political gain rather than addressing the real problem of fraud.
O’Neill referred to a video by a right-wing influencer alleging fraud in day care centers operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis, prompting demands for audits of these centers.
The Trump administration’s crackdown on fraud in Minnesota follows investigations into various fraud schemes, including a major pandemic food fraud case.
Acting CDC Director O’Neill announced additional measures to prevent fraud in child care funds, requiring justification and evidence for payments.
The Administration for Children and Families provides significant funding to Minnesota for child care programs, which has raised concerns about the extent of fraud in the state.
Walz has defended his administration’s actions against fraud and emphasized the importance of an upcoming audit to determine the full scope of the issue.
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar has cautioned against blaming the entire Somali community for the actions of a few individuals involved in fraud.
