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Minnesota’s alleged fraud scandal continues with the blue state now “on the clock” to comply with federal officials.
“We asked Minnesota for evidence that child care funding goes to legitimate providers,” Jim O’Neill, deputy secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), wrote in an X post video alongside HHS Assistant Secretary Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Alex Adams. “Six weeks later, they still have not sent this information.”
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The ACF sent a “preliminary notice of non-compliance” to the state, according to O’Neill.
“We are no longer asking, we are demanding,” Adams said. “Since Minnesota refused to comply with their federally approved state plan and regulations, ACF has sent a preliminary notice of non-compliance to Minnesota.”
Quality Learning Center in Minnesota was found at the center of an alleged childcare fraud scandal in the state. (Madelin Fuerste / Fox News Channel)
O’Neill said the state has 60 days to send the desired documents to federal officials.
“We put Minnesota on the clock,” O’Neill said in the video. “If their response is insufficient, we’ll pursue full penalties under the law against the state.”
O’Neill said HHS sends approximately $20 billion to the state annually.
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“Every dollar that the state diverts into fraud is stolen from the intended Minnesota recipient. The status quo was to trust the state to stop fraud. That clearly did not work,” O’Neill said.
On Dec. 30, O’Neill and Adams announced a childcare payment freeze to the state after an alleged fraud scandal was exposed, involving daycare centers in the state.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announces he will not be seeking reelection during a news conference, Jan. 5, at the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minn.…
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