Tim Walz needs to explain himself.
On Wednesday, the House Education and Workforce Committee took a significant step in its ongoing investigation into one of the largest pandemic-related fraud schemes in the nation by issuing subpoenas to key figures and agencies involved. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong are all required to submit documents regarding their handling of the Feeding Our Future nonprofit organization, which is alleged to have misappropriated millions of dollars meant to provide meals for children during the pandemic.
This move, initially reported by NBC News, is part of a broader investigation led by the Republican-majority committee that dates back to 2022. Rep. Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, who chairs the committee, has expressed concern about the misuse of taxpayer funds intended for vulnerable children. In her letter to Governor Walz, Foxx underscored the need for transparency to assess how effectively Walz and his administration addressed the massive fraud that exploited funds designated for feeding children in need.
Recent state audit findings have criticized the Minnesota Department of Education for its inadequate oversight of Feeding Our Future. The audit revealed that the department’s lack of proper oversight allowed the nonprofit to defraud the system. According to the report, the state’s failure to act created a fertile ground for fraud.
Commissioner Jett has responded to these findings by attributing the blame to the perpetrators of the fraud. In his written reply, he described the situation as a “brazen abuse” of nutrition programs and emphasized that responsibility for the fraud rests with those who have been indicted and convicted, not with his department.
Federal prosecutors have charged 70 individuals in connection with the scheme, with 18 having pleaded guilty and five convicted as of June. The fraudulent operation reportedly involved over 250 sites across Minnesota, with false attendance rosters claiming to feed non-existent children.
This investigative push by Republican leaders, which intensified after they gained control of the House in 2023, aims to hold both state and federal agencies accountable. Despite previous requests for information, Foxx has criticized both the USDA and the Minnesota Education Department for their delayed and incomplete responses. The subpoenas require all involved parties to submit the necessary documents by September 18, though they are not obligated to testify.