{"id":2350825,"date":"2024-10-04T14:09:02","date_gmt":"2024-10-04T18:09:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/walz-administration-hostile-in-response-to-cascade-of-audits-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-10-04T14:12:46","modified_gmt":"2024-10-04T18:12:46","slug":"walz-administration-hostile-in-response-to-cascade-of-audits-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/walz-administration-hostile-in-response-to-cascade-of-audits-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Walz administration &#8216;hostile&#8217; in response to cascade of audits &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwalz-administration-hostile-in-response-to-cascade-of-audits-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2350825&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The summary regarding the Minnesota Department of Education and the Feeding Our Future scandal \u2063reveals significant\u200b oversight failures\u200b under the Walz administration, leading to accusations of fraud. The Minnesota Office of the Legislative\u2064 Auditor \u2062reported\u200d that the state\u2019s Department \u2063of Education failed to \u2062properly oversee federal \u2063funds intended for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/yes-biden-is-hiding-his-plan-to-rig-the-2022-midterm-elections\/\" title=\"Yes, Biden Is Hiding His Plan To Rig The 2022 Midterm Elections\">child nutrition<\/a>, resulting in the organization &#8216;Feeding Our Future&#8217; \u2062being implicated in \u200ca \u200cmassive \u200cfraud scheme that misappropriated at least $250 million.\u2064 This organization \u200dwas supposed to support \u200defforts to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/were-going-to-be-investigating-pandemic-fraud-for-the-next-century\/\" title=\"We\u2019re Going To Be Investigating Pandemic Fraud For The Next Century\">feed low-income children<\/a> but instead became \u200centwined in\u2063 one of the largest fraud\u2063 cases stemming\u200c from\u2063 the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>The audits criticized various state \u2062agencies, suggesting a culture of negligence and\u200c accountability issues. Despite the gravity of the\u2063 findings, there have been no reported disciplinary actions \u2064against any employees or \u200dleaders within\u2063 the affected agencies, which\u200b has attracted criticism \u200cfrom Republican lawmakers. \u200cThey \u200bargue that\u2064 the issues reflect a \u200black of responsibility from Governor Walz, who acknowledged the audits\u200b as\u200c providing &#8220;fair critique&#8221; while maintaining that\u200b state \u200cemployees were not found complicit \u2064in illegal activities.<\/p>\n<p>In\u200c response to the audits, officials from affected departments expressed disagreement with the findings, indicating a refusal\u200d to accept accountability. The scandal has sparked \u200dfederal investigations, resulting in criminal charges \u200dagainst multiple \u2064individuals involved.\u200b Walz&#8217;s administration continues to face \u200bscrutiny over its handling of the situation, with calls from critics for greater accountability and improvements in oversight to\u2064 prevent future fraud.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Walz administration &lsquo;hostile and uncooperative&rsquo; in response to cascade of audits<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1775034\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A slew of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/section\/news\/investigations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>audits<\/a> expressing concern over agencies in his home state has Gov. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tim-walz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Tim Walz<\/a> (D-MN) facing criticism that he isn&rsquo;t doing enough to hold his department heads accountable.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Judy Randall, the nonpartisan head of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/minnesota\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Minnesota&rsquo;s\">Minnesota&rsquo;s<\/a> Office of the Legislative Auditor, said that multiple state agencies under the Walz administration have repeatedly downplayed and ignored looming oversight failures, according to a CNN <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/10\/04\/politics\/walz-audits-fraud-accountability-invs\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"report\">report<\/a>. Randall noted she isn&rsquo;t aware of a single agency employee or leader who has been fired or disciplined as a result of the watchdog office&rsquo;s stunning reports.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>GOP critics said the problems ultimately flowed from the governor&rsquo;s mansion.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When he is not holding any commissioners responsible, then yes, Gov. Walz is responsible for the fraud that has been ongoing in the state of Minnesota,&rdquo; said Lisa Demuth, Minnesota&rsquo;s state House GOP leader, per the outlet. &ldquo;It falls squarely on his shoulders.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>One <a href=\"https:\/\/www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us\/fad\/pdf\/fad2403.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>audit<\/a> released in June faulted the state&rsquo;s Department of Labor and Industry and Department of Revenue for failing to vet recipients of the bonus given to people working front-line jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic properly. It found that roughly 40% of Minnesota residents who received the benefit may not have been qualified to receive it.<\/p>\n<p>After the audit&rsquo;s report, Randall said the agencies responded that it &ldquo;disagreed with every single thing we said.&rdquo; The DLI and DOR are led by Walz appointees Nicole Blissenbach and Paul Marquart, respectively.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) speaks during an interview in the state Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo\/Steve Karnowski, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A second <a href=\"https:\/\/www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us\/sreview\/pdf\/2024-mdefof.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>audit<\/a> released the same month confirmed shocking failures from the Minnesota Department of Education to oversee millions of dollars in Federal Child Nutrition Program grant funds allocated to the nonprofit organization Feeding Our Future.<\/p>\n<p>The organization led a host of groups supposedly spearheading efforts to feed low-income children across the state. Instead, it became embroiled in the country&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-charges-47-people-in-largest-pandemic-fraud-scheme-in-u-s\/\" title=\"DOJ charges 47 people in largest pandemic fraud scheme in U.S.\">largest pandemic fraud scheme<\/a>, ripping at least $250 million off of federal funding. The recent report from the auditor&rsquo;s office came after the DOJ and the FBI launched investigations into the matter, eventually leveling federal criminal charges against at least 70 people.<\/p>\n<p>Randall told CNN that the MDE, led by Walz-appointed Commissioner Willie Jett, has been dismissive of the report&rsquo;s findings.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;That&rsquo;s not what MDE is about,&rdquo; Jett said when pressed on if the MDE had disciplined any personnel.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>While Walz conceded the audit provided a &ldquo;fair critique,&rdquo; he told the <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.startribune.com\/we-can-always-do-better-gov-tim-walz-says-of-education-department-after-report-criticizes-oversight-of-feeding-our-future\/600374449\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Minnesota Star Tribune<\/a> <\/em>earlier this year, he said that &ldquo;there&rsquo;s not a single state employee that was implicated in doing anything that was illegal.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Another<a href=\"https:\/\/www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us\/ped\/pedrep\/2024-grant-award-processes.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title> audit<\/a> released in April found that the Minnesota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Division failed to follow critical conflict-of-interest policies. Additionally, the DHS failed to complete financial assessments for more than 40% of grants (worth tens of millions of dollars) that the agency handed out, according to the audit. The review further indicated the DHS had not followed through with recommendations made in 2021 after state auditors reported similar findings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Brooke Cunningham, who leads the DHS, is another Walz appointee.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Republicans in Minnesota say Walz has failed to hold the state&rsquo;s commissioners to a high standard of accountability.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The governor&rsquo;s appointees across the board at almost all agencies have been hostile and uncooperative when citizens are seeking transparency and oversight through the legislative auditor,&rdquo; said Republican state Sen. Mark Koran, the vice chairman of the state&rsquo;s bipartisan&#8239;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/thousands-of-non-citizens-to-be-moved-off-state-taxpayer-subsidized-health-care\/\" title=\"Non-citizens to be relocated from state-funded healthcare\">legislative audit commission<\/a>. &ldquo;The hostility is led by Gov. Walz.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>However, Walz&rsquo;s office said it had &ldquo;implemented the vast majority of their suggestions&rdquo; and that the governor &ldquo;always take their advice and recommendations seriously.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1775034\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1775034\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Walz administration criticized for being &#8216;hostile and uncooperative&#8217; amid audits<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2350826,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ap-tim-walz-100424.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[8049,14366,42358,37326,38323],"class_list":["post-2350825","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-accountability","tag-audits","tag-government-response","tag-minnesota-politics","tag-walz-administration"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ap-tim-walz-100424.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2350825","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2350825"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2350825\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2350826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2350825"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2350825"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2350825"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}