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The USDA is suspending more than $120 million in federal funding to Minnesota effective immediately
Katie Hawkinson in Washington, D.C. Saturday 10 January 2026 01:12 GMT- Bookmark
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CloseRelated:Tim Walz announces he won't run for third term as Minnesota governor
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Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced that her agency is “suspending federal financial awards” to Minnesota and Minneapolis, citing evidence of “fraud” found by the Trump administration.
Rollins published a letter Friday addressed to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, announcing the suspension of “all active awards and any future awards from USDA to the State of Minnesota and the City of Minneapolis, currently totaling over $129.18 million.”
She also instructed Minnesota officials to “provide the USDA with payment justifications for all federal dollar expenditures from January 20, 2025, to the present" within 30 days. The Independent has contacted Walz and Frey for comment.
The Independent has contacted the USDA for more information on which programs will be impacted by this suspension.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced she's suspending 'federal financial awards' to Minnesota and Minneapolis (Getty Images)The decision comes days after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, identified as Jonathan Ross, shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. Protests have since erupted in Minneapolis and other cities across the U.S., including Boston, New York and Washington, D.C.
In a social media post announcing the decision, Rollins said the Trump administration has “uncovered massive fraud” and that “those in charge have ZERO plan to fix. it.”
Rollins also wrote in her letter that “numerous non-profits and businesses have defrauded the federal government” while Walz and Frey have been in office. Rollins specifically cited the Feeding Our Future fraud scandal, which first emerged in 2022.
Dozens of people have been convicted in connection with the scheme, which prosecutors have said involved the theft of millions of dollars from a federal program designed to feed children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Justice Department has characterized it as the largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the U.S., and in March, Walz said he was “furious” with “criminals that preyed on the system that was meant to feed children.”
This comes as federal officials say they’re investigating alleged widespread social services fraud in the state. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said last month ICE agents were “conducting a massive investigation on childcare and other rampant fraud.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also announced a series of initiatives “to combat rampant government benefits fraud” in Minnesota on Friday.
Last month, Walz said he welcomes any support to fight fraud in Minnesota.
“You commit fraud in Minnesota, you're going to prison. I don't care what color you are, what religion you are. Anybody who wants to help us in that, we welcome that,” he said at the time.
Walz has also announced that he will not seek a third term in office, following weeks of heightened concern about fraud schemes in Minnesota. While Walz has faced criticism from the Trump administration over the scandals, he has not been accused of wrongdoing.
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.
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