{"id":2585657,"date":"2026-03-31T12:30:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T16:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cassidy-homes-in-on-walz-administration-over-latest-health-records-breach\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T12:33:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T16:33:53","slug":"cassidy-homes-in-on-walz-administration-over-latest-health-records-breach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cassidy-homes-in-on-walz-administration-over-latest-health-records-breach\/","title":{"rendered":"Cassidy homes in on Walz administration over latest health records breach"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/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%2Fcassidy-homes-in-on-walz-administration-over-latest-health-records-breach%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=2585657&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>Sen. Bill cassidy,the Republican chair of the Senate Health Committee,has launched a formal inquiry into Minnesota Governor Tim Walz\u2019s governance over its handling of a state data breach. The probe focuses on the mnchoices system after an unauthorized employee of a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >healthcare provider accessed residents\u2019 private data<\/a>, exposing information for more than 300,000 people, including demographics, the last four digits of Social Security numbers, Medicaid IDs, and other sensitive records. Cassidy sent a letter to DHS Commissioner Shireen gandhi and the Walz administration seeking records, arguing the breach raises questions about data security and the department\u2019s response, given Minnesota\u2019s broader concerns about fraud in social services. The Minnesota Department of Human services says there is no evidence the information was misused, noting the breach occurred from August to September 2025, with affected individuals notified in January 2026 and advised to monitor for fraud and obtain free credit reports. Cassidy is requesting a response by April 14 on how the breach was discovered, steps taken since, and why <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-know-about-the-columbus-cyberattack-one-month-later-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"What to know about the Columbus cyberattack one month later - Washington Examiner\">free credit monitoring<\/a> was not offered. The inquiry is part of Cassidy\u2019s wider pattern of GOP investigations into health-data issues, including a prior probe into an Illinois health-records breach, and reflects ongoing partisan emphasis on data security and governance.  <\/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\">Bill Cassidy targets Walz administration in latest <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/17-house-members-hundreds-of-staffers-affected-by-dc-health-data-breach\/\" title=\"17 House Members, Hundreds of Staffers Affected by DC Health Data ...\">health data breach<\/a> investigation<\/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\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2478920\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><strong>EXCLUSIVE &mdash;<\/strong> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/bill-cassidy\/\">Sen. Bill Cassidy<\/a>&nbsp;(R-LA), chairman of the Senate health committee, has launched an inquiry into the administration of&nbsp;Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tim-walz\/\">Tim Walz<\/a> (D-MN) over its handling of a recent <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.govtech.com\/security\/minnesota-human-services-data-breach-may-effect-300k-people\">data breach<\/a>&nbsp;involving the private information of more than 300,000 state residents.<\/p>\n<p>The investigation, first reported by the <em>Washington Examiner<\/em>, comes on the heels of Cassidy conducting a similar inquiry into the handling of a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4453375\/senate-gop-jb-pritzker-illinois-health-records-breach\/\">health data breach in Illinois<\/a> by Gov. JB Pritzker&rsquo;s (D-IL) administration.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4510429\/graham-criticism-over-disney-trip-iran-tensions-escalate\/\">Lindsey Graham faces criticism over Disney trip as Iran tensions escalate<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4509935\/dhs-shutdown-stress-tests-thune-alliance-mike-johnson\/\">DHS shutdown stress-tests John Thune&#8217;s relationship with Mike Johnson<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4509818\/congress-pressure-two-week-recess-record-dhs-shutdown\/\">Thune under pressure to end two-week vacation amid record-long DHS shutdown<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Cassidy is seeking records from the Minnesota Department of Human Services after an unauthorized employee of a healthcare provider accessed data in a state system relied upon by a large number of low-income individuals known as MnCHOICES, according to a letter sent Monday by the senator to the Walz administration and obtained by the&nbsp;<em>Washington Examiner<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>That data included detailed demographic information, the last four digits of Social Security numbers, Medicaid IDs, and other sensitive financial and medical records.<\/p>\n<p>The congressional scrutiny is the latest in a blitz of investigations launched or expanded in recent weeks by Cassidy, who is fighting for reelection against a&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4425255\/julia-letlow-trump-launches-senate-challenge-bill-cassidy\/\">Trump-backed primary challenger<\/a>, targeting Democratic administrations.<\/p>\n<p>Those have centered on <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.help.senate.gov\/rep\/newsroom\/press\/chairman-cassidy-expands-investigation-into-child-care-fraud-demands-accountability-from-governors\">child care fraud<\/a> in New York, Michigan, and Oregon; New York Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.help.senate.gov\/rep\/newsroom\/press\/chairman-cassidy-blasts-zohran-mamdani-using-taxpayer-dollars-to-promote-his-radical-left-agenda-alienate-jewish-new-yorkers\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a>&rsquo;s use of federal funds for healthcare; medical groups&rsquo; support for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.help.senate.gov\/rep\/newsroom\/press\/chairman-cassidy-expands-investigation-into-medical-groups-promoting-irreversible-gender-mutilation-of-children\">gender transition surgeries<\/a> for children; and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.help.senate.gov\/rep\/newsroom\/press\/chairman-cassidy-colleagues-launch-investigation-into-abortion-drug-manufacturers-urge-fda-to-crack-down-on-illegal-online-sellers\">abortion drug manufacturers<\/a>. Cassidy has argued that higher fraud rates in some blue states compared to GOP-led states warrant additional scrutiny.<\/p>\n<p>Cassidy wrote to Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Shireen Gandhi that the breach in her state, which is already under the spotlight for widespread fraud in government social service programs, &ldquo;raises questions about its commitment to data security.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Given Minnesota DHS&rsquo; role in helping vulnerable communities, its failure to identify the full scope of the incident and offer basic remedial support in light of a cybersecurity incident is unacceptable,&rdquo; Cassidy wrote.<\/p>\n<p>The department did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From l-r: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA) attends a hearing on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, Capitol Hill in Washington and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) speaks during a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on oversight of fraud and misuse of federal funds in Minnesota on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photos\/Rod Lamkey, Jr.\/Allison Robbert)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In a Jan. 16 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/mn.gov\/dhs\/assets\/2026-01_FEI%20Data%20Breach_Notice%20Letter%20B_tcm1053-719986.pdf\">letter to affected individuals<\/a>, the department said there was &ldquo;no evidence the information accessed in the system has been misused.&rdquo; The notification came about four months after the breach occurred from August 2025 to September 2025, and one month after the department was made aware of the breach on Nov. 19, 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The department recommended checking for any fraudulent health insurance claims and requesting a free credit report from consumer credit reporting companies, but it &ldquo;does not have evidence that your medical insurance number was used by an unauthorized person.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4453375\/senate-gop-jb-pritzker-illinois-health-records-breach\/\">SENATE GOP INVESTIGATING PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION OVER ILLINOIS HEALTH RECORDS BREACH<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cassidy is seeking a response by April 14 to questions about how and when the breach was discovered, steps taken since to prevent future incidents, and why the department is not offering free credit monitoring.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;As hostile actors use more sophisticated methods to obtain health information, government stewards of protected health information (PHI) must all take robust steps to deter these attacks,&rdquo; Cassidy wrote.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/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>Cassidy probes Walz admin over Minn. data breach<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2585658,"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\/2026\/03\/image-collage-ilosd61af-1774970169690-e1774970385524.jpg?1774955966&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[6677,73526,76875],"class_list":["post-2585657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-cassidy","tag-health-records-breach","tag-walz-administration-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-collage-ilosd61af-1774970169690-e1774970385524.jpg?1774955966&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585657","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\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2585657"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585657\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2585662,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2585657\/revisions\/2585662"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2585658"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2585657"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2585657"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2585657"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}