Minnesota human services employees hit Walz for ‘massive fraud’
Employees of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) have accused Governor Tim Walz of being responsible for widespread fraud within the state’s human services programs. They claim that systemic failures, attributed too Walz’s governance, allowed fraudulent cases-particularly involving Somali residents enrolling in fictitious services through nonexistent companies-to proliferate. DHS employees criticized Walz for retalia ting against whistleblowers who attempted to expose the fraud and accused agency leaders appointed by him of ignoring regulations and suppressing fraud reports. Several DHS officials involved in the scandal have faced little accountability, despite resignations and firings. The employees also allege that Walz mismanaged federal ARPA funds, using them to create leadership positions favoring his associates. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump recently ended temporary protected status for Somali residents in Minnesota, citing concerns about gang violence and missing funds. Although Walz responded swiftly to unrelated criticisms from Trump, he has remained publicly silent about the fraud allegations. The Washington Examiner has sought comment from the governor.
Minnesota human services employees blame Walz for ‘massive fraud’ in state
Employees with the Minnesota Department of Human Services accused Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) of creating a “cascade of systemic failures” that led to statewide fraud.
A report from the New York Times prompted a response from the agency regarding the fraudulent cases of Somali residents in Minnesota enrolling in nonexistent services through nonexistent companies. Employees with Minnesota DHS thanked the New York Times for its reporting.
“Tim Walz is 100% responsible for massive fraud in Minnesota. We let Tim Walz know of fraud early on, hoping for a partnership in stopping fraud but no, we got the opposite response. Tim Walz systematically retaliated against whistleblowers using monitoring, threats, repression, and did his best to discredit fraud reports,” Minnesota DHS employees wrote on X on Saturday.
“This is a cascade of systemic failures leading up to Tim Walz. Agency leaders appointed by Tim Walz willfully disregarded rules and laws to keep fraud reports quiet – even to the extent of threatening families of whistleblowers,” the post added. “These same leaders are not qualified for their jobs, instead getting leadership jobs via Tim Walz’s friendship so state government were left floundering.”
According to the agency, there are many who should be “held responsible for their role” in the scheme but haven’t faced consequences, naming DHS temporary Commissioner Shireen Gandhi, former DHS Commissioner Jodi Harpstead, DHS compliance officer Jess Geil, Assistant Commissioner of Aging and Disability Services Natasha Merz, and former DHS Assistant Commissioner for Homelessness Eric Grumdahl. Harpstead notably resigned from her position in January, while Grumdahl was fired in September.
“Fundamentally, Tim Walz is dishonest, lacks ethics and integrity, has poor leadership abilities, and has never taken any accountability for his role in fraud,” the employees wrote. “Fact is, Minnesota never had a surplus, we had been given federal ARPA funds that were conflated as surplus money otherwise, we’d be in a deficit. And those ARPA funds, which were meant to be temporary funds were used to create more leadership positions for Tim Walz ‘buddies.’”
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump ended the temporary protected status for Somali residents in Minnesota. Trump alleged “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing.”
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While Walz was quick to respond to Trump name-calling him in a Truth Social post this week that was unrelated to the fraud, Walz has not commented publicly on the matter as it circulated in media reports for over a week.
The Washington Examiner has reached out to Walz for comment.
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