The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has indefinitely suspended all active and future grants to the state of Minnesota, citing “billions in fraud” and a refusal by state Democratic leadership to cooperate with federal oversight.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the dramatic freeze Friday evening, stating that $129 million in funding has been immediately halted. In a letter directed to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Rollins demanded the state produce payment justifications for every grant issued since January 2025 within the next 30 days.
READ: Connecticut Sen. Murphy Alleges ‘Nuclear Grade’ Corruption, Hints At Impeachment Rift With Pelosi
“No more handouts to thieves!” Rollins wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “The American people deserve to know that their taxpayer dollars are helping those in need — not criminals.”
The suspension targets funds allocated under major initiatives like the Child and Adult Care Food Program and the Summer Food Service Program. According to the USDA, criminals exploited these specific funding streams during the COVID-19 pandemic to orchestrate one of the largest fraud schemes in recent history.
Feeding Our Future Scandal
At the center of the controversy is the “Feeding Our Future” scandal, where $300 million intended to feed children during the height of the pandemic was siphoned off by fraudsters.
According to court records, the non-profit organization exploited waivers that loosened accountability mechanisms during the public health crisis. Instead of providing meals, the funds were diverted to purchase luxury vehicles, designer goods, and real estate in Africa.
Federal prosecutors have noted a specific demographic trend within the indictment records; reportedly, 85 of the 98 defendants charged in connection with Minnesota fraud-related cases are of Somali descent.
Political Fallout and Allegations
The announcement triggered an immediate rebuke from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
“I will not allow you to take from Minnesotans in need,” Ellison responded on X.
However, Ellison is facing scrutiny regarding his own role during the period in question. Allegations suggest the Attorney General may have been complicit or negligent, with recordings from December 2021 reportedly capturing him fielding complaints about unfair treatment from individuals who later became defendants in the fraud case—some of whom were also campaign donors.
While U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson confirmed in December that the Department of Justice had identified 14 separate fraudulent funding streams, the Feeding Our Future case remains the primary driver of convictions.
SNAP Discrepancies
Beyond the child nutrition grants, Secretary Rollins’s letter highlighted obstruction regarding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). She accused the Walz administration of blocking federal efforts to recertify SNAP rolls to remove ineligible recipients.
This follows revelations by a KSTP 5 reporter that the Minnesota Department of Human Services repeatedly submitted false SNAP figures to the USDA. The discrepancies were uncovered during inquiries into a massive 174% spike in state SNAP spending recorded between 2020 and 2021.
State officials now have a one-month window to account for the use of federal funds or risk losing access to USDA grants permanently.
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
