Minnesota State Wire

Pete Stauber, Representative of Minnesota, has raised concerns about fraud totaling nearly $1 billion occurring under Governor Tim Walz's administration. He called for accountability and transparency to protect state funds. The statement was made on the social media platform X.

"Under Gov. Tim Walz's watch, fraud has skyrocketed to nearly $1B," said Peter Allen Stauber, U.S. Representative of Minnesota's 8th Congressional District (R). "Minnesotans demand accountability and transparency to protect our tax dollars. Watch my discussion on Just The News with John Solomon."

Minnesota’s government has faced significant fraud scandals during Governor Walz’s tenure, most notably the Feeding Our Future case. In this instance, nonprofit leaders were charged with stealing millions in federal child nutrition funds. According to the Star Tribune, this scandal led to legislative hearings and stricter oversight of state and federal grants, prompting new anti-fraud measures.

A 2023 report from the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor indicated that state programs have suffered over $300 million in fraud losses since 2019. These losses have primarily occurred in social services, nutrition, and grant funding, with both fraud attempts and confirmed losses increasing in recent years.

A study conducted by the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting in 2024 found that Minnesota's rate of government fraud cases is among the highest in the Midwest. However, it also noted that Minnesota leads the region in anti-fraud initiatives and enforcement, surpassing states like Wisconsin and Iowa.

According to Ballotpedia, Pete Stauber is a Republican U.S. Representative for Minnesota’s 8th District. He serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure and Natural Resources Committees and has focused on government accountability and oversight during his time in Congress.