The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Tuesday that it is halting all child care payments to Minnesota, as the Trump administration has put fresh attention on a years-long fraud scandal in the North Star State.
“We have frozen all child care payments to the state of Minnesota,” HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill wrote on the social platform X, noting that the department will also require photo evidence before sending any Administration for Children and Families funds to all 50 states.
“We have turned off the money spigot and we are finding the fraud,” he continued.
Agencies from the FBI and Homeland Security to the Small Business Administration have launched actions in the Democratic-run state after a viral YouTube video brought renewed focus to the controversy.
The Minnesota fraud scheme’s ringleader is white, but dozens of Somali people have been convicted and faced additional charges. GOP lawmakers in recent days have demanded further investigation.
Elsewhere, the Trump administration’s military operations to pressure Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by targeting “narco-terrorists” have also broadened to include a land attack.
The CIA carried out a drone strike on a port facility in Venezuela last week, The New York Times and CNN both reported. President Trump has described the operation publicly, on Friday and again Monday, saying a facility where boats would pick up drugs was “knocked out.”
Trump has nothing on his public schedule Tuesday.
