Federal agents descended on Minneapolis in the early hours of Tuesday morning, executing search warrants at approximately 20 childcare centers across the city.
This massive law enforcement sweep, confirmed by multiple officials, signals a significant escalation in the government’s efforts to dismantle billion-dollar fraud schemes that took root in Minnesota during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While no arrests were made during the Tuesday morning raids—a departure from the high-profile immigration enforcement seen during last winter’s Operation Metro Surge—the presence of about a dozen agents at sites like the Mini Childcare Center and the “Quality Learning Center” in Minneapolis sent a clear message.
Vice President JD Vance addressed the raids in an X post, “The task force and the DOJ will be relentless in exposing these fraudsters wherever they may be hiding.”
Witnesses saw investigators documenting the scene and hauling portable file cases into the facilities as the sun rose over the Twin Cities.
READ: Pennsylvania Sen. Fetterman, DNC Vice Chair Square Off As “TDS” Comments Spark Intra-Party Friction
A spokesperson for the Justice Department released a brief statement confirming the scope of the mission, noting that the FBI is working alongside state and local law enforcement on “court-authorized law enforcement activity as part of an ongoing fraud investigation.”
The scale of the alleged corruption in Minnesota has been a focal point for federal prosecutors for years. Since 2021, 92 individuals have been charged in connection with various pandemic-related schemes, resulting in 67 convictions so far.
This includes five recent guilty pleas tied to the Feeding Our Future scandal, where defendants were found to have exploited federal nutrition programs intended for hungry children.
U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen, who previously praised his team for exposing what he called “rampant fraud,” declined to comment on the specifics of the ongoing Tuesday operation.
The investigation gained significant national traction last December after a viral video by YouTuber Nick Shirley highlighted several Somali-owned daycares and health clinics. The footage was widely shared by prominent figures, including Elon Musk, Vice President J.D. Vance, and former Attorney General Pam Bondi, who have all pushed for a more aggressive crackdown on the misuse of taxpayer funds.
READ: Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Slams AOC For ‘Total Warfare’ Hypocrisy
The focus on these specific programs has sparked intense political friction. While the Trump administration and various Republican lawmakers have pointed to the high concentration of defendants within the Somali community as a matter of oversight and accountability, local Democratic officials have pushed back.
Governor Tim Walz has previously described such scrutiny as “slander,” though the political pressure surrounding the scandals eventually led him to end his reelection campaign in January.
In an effort to address growing transparency concerns, the state recently appointed a “fraud czar” to safeguard taxpayer-funded social programs from further exploitation.
Despite these local measures, Tuesday’s federal activity suggests that the Department of Justice is far from finished with its pursuit of those who siphoned off pandemic relief funds.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
