Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has released a website that claims there isn’t widespread taxpayer fraud in the state.
The website cites a Star Tribune report, a newspaper whose publisher and CEO is Steve Grove, a former Walz appointee.
That report claimed criminals only committed $217 million in social services fraud since Sept. 2022, while a federal prosecutor placed that number at around $9 billion across 14 social programs, according to U.S. Assistant Attorney Joe Thompson.
The Star Tribune is one of the many media companies in Minnesota that tried to ignore up to billions of dollars of fraud exposed by Nick Shirley, a journalist in his 20s with a camera crew that broke possibly the biggest story of 2025.
The website says: “Fraud is a nationwide challenge and is not unique to Minnesota. Higher visibility does not equal higher fraud. Targeted misinformation thrust Minnesota into the spotlight, but we are committed to leading the nation in Medicaid program integrity and fighting fraud.”
That website claimed that criminals only committed $217 million in social services fraud since 2022, while a federal prosecutor places the fraud estimate at around $9 billion. Criminals allegedly stole from programs meant to feed hungry kids, help kids with autism, and help people fund housing.
RELEASE: House Fraud Committee responds to Walz Administration's new fraud "fact check" website pic.twitter.com/lA42yO7HkQ
— Minnesota House Fraud and Oversight Committee (@MN_Fraud_Cmte) February 11, 2026
This week, two Pennsylvania men pleaded guilty to defrauding Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services program of about $3.5 million.
They allegedly traveled from Pennsylvania to Minneapolis to defraud a housing program of $3.5 million by using artificial intelligence to create fake records when questioned by insurance companies, Townhall reported.
MN DHS shameless “Fact Checking” website basically supports fraudsters and washes hands of Shireen Gandhi and Tim Walz of any wrongdoing.
— Minnesota Staff Fraud Reporting Commentary (@Minnesota_DHS) February 12, 2026
No mention of multiple disastrous audits, falsifying documents, retaliation that let fraud worsen. Just a bunch of propaganda to set Shireen… https://t.co/gGer1stPj5
State Senate Republican Leader Mark Johnson, R- East Grand Forks, slammed Walz for obfuscating fraud instead of detailing it.
“Governor Walz can try to deny the fraud, call it ‘make believe,’ or minimize it as no different than other states all he wants,” Johnson said in a statement to reporters. “Minnesotans are seeing with their own eyes the reality that vulnerable people are being taken advantage of while fraudsters line their own pockets with taxpayers’ money. The consequences of fraud are not just expensive and wasteful, they are heartbreaking.
“Every individual and family getting services should have full confidence that government is stopping bad actors, rooting out fake billing and scam companies, and prosecuting fraudsters to the full extent of the law. Democrats have proven they are simply not interested in using their power to hold their leaders accountable. Senate Republicans will hold Walz and his administration responsible for these failures.”