Walz and Ellison Defend Fraud Response as GOP Alleges Cover-Up
House Oversight hearing probes Minnesota fraud and Operation Metro Surge as federal officials temporarily halted $243 million in Medicaid funding.
Epoch Times4 Takeaways From Top Minnesota Officials’ Testimony on State’s Massive Fraud
Western JournalMinnesota AG Keith Ellison Feels the Heat During Fraud Hearing in DC: 'You Should Go to Jail'
Washington ExaminerFive takeaways from Minnesota fraud with Governor Tim Walz
The Gateway Pundit"Are you Governor of Minnesota, or Not?... Thank God You are Not the VP" — Rep. Nancy Mace HUMILIATES CLUELESS Tim Walz with Basic Math After 34,200% Autism Spending Scandal Under His Watch | The Gateway Pundit | by Jim Hᴏft
Overview
Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison testified before the House Oversight Committee, defending their handling of fraud while Republicans accused them of a cover-up and stalling fraud prosecutions.
The committee released a report alleging Walz and Ellison lied about their knowledge of fraud and delayed corrective action, centering on the $250 million Feeding Our Future child nutrition scheme.
Walz and Ellison said Operation Metro Surge has hampered fraud prosecutions and prompted resignations at the U.S. Attorney's Office, while Republicans demanded sworn depositions and Democrats highlighted civilian deaths during federal enforcement.
The Trump administration began a surge of roughly 3,000 federal agents in December, with about 650 investigators remaining, Ellison said his office has secured roughly 300 Medicaid fraud convictions and recovered more than $80 million, and 82 of 92 Feeding Our Future defendants are Somali Americans.
Republicans pushed for subpoenas and sworn depositions, Minnesota sued to block the temporary withholding of $243 million in Medicaid funding, and federal officials said they would begin winding down Operation Metro Surge.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present competing claims and largely avoid editorializing, attributing charged language to speakers and balancing accusations with responses. For example, they quote Republicans’ charges (“not been good stewards”), Walz’s defense about enforcement and the immigration surge, and factual details (82 of 92 defendants), while noting Democrats’ images of detained children.
FAQ
Operation Metro Surge is a large-scale federal immigration enforcement operation launched in December 2025 by the Trump administration, deploying about 3,000 DHS agents to Minnesota's Minneapolis metropolitan area to target illegal immigrants and investigate fraud scandals.
Feeding Our Future was a $250 million child nutrition fraud scheme in Minnesota, with 82 of 92 defendants being Somali Americans; it prompted federal fraud investigations tied to Operation Metro Surge.
Republicans allege that Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison lied about their knowledge of fraud, delayed corrective actions, covered up issues related to the Feeding Our Future scheme, and stalled fraud prosecutions.
The operation led to over 4,000 arrests of criminal illegal aliens, but also wrongful detentions of US citizens and legal residents, three shootings with two fatalities, civilian deaths, lawsuits for racial profiling, and resignations at the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The operation is winding down, with federal officials scaling back after achieving arrests, though about 650 investigators remain for fraud cases, and body cameras have been issued to DHS officers.
