...
By Shane Croucher
Senior Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Minnesota retailers identified by her department as "high risk" in compliance investigations will have to "reauthorize" so they can continue to accept SNAP benefits as payment for groceries.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, provides food benefits to low-income families. They are also known as food stamps and are administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In a post on X directed at the state's Democratic governor, Tim Walz, Rollins said that "welfare benefits are for the truly needy. Not bad actors. Not criminals. And not for illegals."
Read More on Politics
"Say goodbye to trafficking, transnational crime rings, and skimmed benefits in MN retailers," she said.
The move comes amid increasing scrutiny on Minnesota's Somali community after the exposure of large-scale fraud within it.
In a statement sent to Newsweek, Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families said it "has not received any official communication from the USDA about recent compliance investigations or requirements to reauthorize retailers to accept money from" SNAP.
"USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is the only source that authorizes SNAP retailers," the statement said. "SNAP retailers are our local grocers, farmers, and other business owners. They play a vital role in ensuring access to food for SNAP families as well as ensuring SNAP dollars contribute to Minnesota’s economy."
Somali Fraud Draws Trump Fury
The White House has seized on the Minnesota fraud scandal involving Somalians, saying it is symbolic of how some migrant populations exploit the U.S. under the noses of Democratic administrations.
U.S. President Donald Trump has since taken an aggressive stance on Somalis more broadly.
Trump called Somali immigrants "garbage," said “they contribute nothing" to the U.S., and that he did not want them in the country.
"Their country is no good for a reason. Your country stinks and we don’t want them in our country," Trump said at a recent cabinet meeting.
His opponents said he was unfairly disparaging an entire community for the actions of some.
...
Earlier in December, Walz told NBC's "Meet the Press" that "it's not just Somalis" who have committed fraud in his state, and that those who were caught are heading to jail.
"Minnesota is a generous state. Minnesota is a prosperous state, a well-run state. We're AAA-bond rated," Walz, who was Kamala Harris's running mate against Republican Trump in the 2024 election, said.
"But that attracts criminals. Those people are going to jail. We're doing everything we can. But to demonize an entire community on the actions of a few, it's lazy."
Treasury Probes al-Shabab Allegations
Federal prosecutors have already brought dozens of criminal cases tied to these schemes in Minnesota, accusing defendants of creating shell companies, inflating service claims and exploiting vulnerable Minnesotans to siphon off public money.
State officials have shut down programs associated with the alleged fraud, while investigators say the scope of the schemes amounts to one of the largest thefts of public funds in Minnesota’s history.
At the start of December, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said his department had also opened an investigation into allegations that Minnesota tax dollars were diverted to the terrorist group al-Shabab during the Biden administration and under Walz.
In a post on X, Bessent said the probe was launched at Trump’s direction and pledged swift action to ensure taxpayer funds are not used to support terrorism.
Updated, 12/12/25, 3:28 a.m. ET: This article was updated with a statement from Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines