Amid the investigation carried out for multiple fraud cases in Minnesota, the Department of Agriculture suspended its funding
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The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Friday the immediate suspension of federal awards and financial funds allocated to the state of Minnesota and the city of Minneapolis, as part of a federal fraud investigation that has cost American taxpayers billions of dollars.
The decision was presented by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins as a necessary measure to stop the systematic abuse of social programs funded with federal resources.
"Enough is enough!", Rollins wrote on the social network X when she announced the suspension. "Today, USDA is SUSPENDING federal financial awards to Minnesota and Minneapolis, effective immediately, until it is sufficiently demonstrated that the fraud has been stopped. No more aid for thieves. It is time to drain Minnesota's swamp and put American taxpayers first."
Brooke Rollins, secretaria de Agricultura, confirmó la suspensión de premios y fondos federales al estado de Minnesota y la ciudad de Minneapolis
In a letter addressed to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, both Democrats, Rollins stated that under their leadership, or lack thereof, fraud networks were allowed to operate with impunity, exploiting federal programs designed to help vulnerable populations.
The secretary emphasized that federal intervention is necessary to protect public resources until adequate controls are established.
The measure affects more than 129 million dollars in active and future USDA funds allocated to the state and the city, including resources channeled through child nutrition programs.
Among them is the "Feeding Our Future" scandal, which is considered by the Department of Justice to be the largest COVID-19-related fraud scheme in the country. That case involved the diversion of more than 250 million dollars in funds intended to feed low-income children during the pandemic.
La decisión fue comunicada a través de una carta enviada a Tim Walz y el alcalde de Minneapolis
According to the USDA, the fraud was committed through programs such as the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). By the end of November, at least 78 people had been formally charged, many of them linked to organizations that pretended to distribute food while diverting large sums of federal money.
Rollins directly accused Walz and Frey of refusing to assume political and administrative responsibilities and of responding to the complaints by labeling the criticism as "racist" instead of strengthening oversight mechanisms.
In her letter, the secretary demanded that state and municipal authorities submit, within 30 days, detailed justifications for all federal expenditures made since January 20, 2025.
El escándalo de fraude que envuelve a Minnesota ya lleva más de 78 denuncias formales
The suspension of USDA funds adds to other federal actions against Minnesota. Several agencies, including the Small Business Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have frozen or reviewed funding allocated to the state.
In HHS's case, an attempt to pause 10 billion dollars in aid to Minnesota and four other Democrat-governed states was temporarily blocked by a federal judge while a lawsuit filed by state attorneys general moves forward.
On the political front, the scandal has had direct consequences. Governor Tim Walz announced that he will not seek reelection, amid growing pressure from President Donald Trump's administration, which has repeatedly accused state officials of allowing fraud and failing to act in time to stop it.
