Explaining VP Candidate Walz’s School Nutrition Scandal

Who Is Tim Walz?

The Harris-Walz campaign has highlighted how the governor’s background in education and agriculture positions him to advocate for expanded federal support, collaborate with state and local leaders, leverage executive influence, and address funding challenges. They claim that Walz’s leadership could pave the way for meaningful advancements in school nutrition, contributing to a more equitable educational environment for all students.

Indeed, the governor is known for his strong advocacy for educational equity and welfare reform. He perhaps brings a unique perspective to the ticket, particularly regarding universal school meals. As a former high school teacher and current governor, Walz has touted goals prioritizing education, pushing for increased school funding and initiatives to reduce educational disparities.

Universal free school meals, a free breakfast and lunch policy to all students regardless of income, gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing food insecurity and educational disruption. Despite its benefits, the program ended nationwide on June 30, 2022, due to funding and logistical challenges. However, Walz’s tenure as governor saw Minnesota become the fourth state to offer free school meals, highlighting his commitment to reducing childhood poverty and hunger.

But according to the federal government, things under the surface were a lot less smooth – and a lot shadier.

A SNAP SNAFU

On September 4, the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce sent a letter to Walz. The Committee oversaw the United States Department of Agriculture’s and the Minnesota Department of Education’s administration of federal child nutrition programs. The letter, signed by Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, highlighted the Committee’s concerns about a multi-million-dollar fraud that occurred under Walz's tenure, based on findings from a government probe two years ago.

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice brought fraud charges against 47 Feeding Our Future (FOF) employees, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization. The charges stemmed from allegations that the individuals were involved in a massive scheme to defraud federal child nutrition programs. Prosecutors claimed that the defendants conspired to misappropriate millions of dollars intended for feeding underprivileged children during the COVID-19 pandemic. The DOJ claimed that FOF had defrauded Minnesota’s school nutrition programs (funded by the state’s Department of Agriculture) for around $250 million.

According to the charges, the accused individuals submitted false claims for meal reimbursements, inflating the number of meals served and diverting funds for personal use, including luxury purchases and real estate investments. The case highlighted serious vulnerabilities in oversight and accountability within federal aid programs, drawing widespread attention and prompting calls for stricter regulatory measures to prevent similar fraud in the future.

Attempts for Documents Frustrated

The Committee sent letters to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) on November 14, 2023, and June 14, 2024, seeking information related to the FOF incident. It requested documents and communications related to the administration of these programs and the fraud that occurred. But, the MDE fell short of providing substantive and responsive materials. 

Despite multiple requests for information and documentation from the MDE, the responses have been insufficient in addressing the scope of the fraud. Press statements by Walz and his representatives have indicated awareness of the fraud, yet actions taken by the administration were deemed inadequate to prevent the massive financial abuse that was alleged. What the Committee could gather from the documents that MDE did provide was that the actions taken by Walz and other executive officers were insufficient to address the fraud.

The Committee was particularly troubled by the lack of accountability and due diligence within the MDE. Foxx claimed that statements in the press from Walz and his representatives indicated that he and other executive officers were involved in or knew about MDE’s administration of the nutrition programs and responsibilities. Despite that, the letter pointed out that Walz had claimed in a statement published in the Minnesota

Star Tribune in June that there was no “malfeasance” in the state’s education department. Walz had claimed: “There’s not a single state employee that was implicated in doing anything that was illegal. They simply didn’t do as much due diligence as they should’ve.”

The Committee noted that press statements by Governor Walz and his representatives acknowledged the fraud but did not hold agencies accountable or discipline MDE employees adequately. The lack of comprehensive and detailed responses from the MDE led the Committee to issue a subpoena to compel the production of the necessary documents and communications to fully understand the extent of the administration's involvement and response to the fraud.

The Subpoena

The Committee has now resorted to issuing a subpoena to compel the production of documents and communications to fully understand the extent of the administration's involvement and response to the fraud. Foxx emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in the stewardship of taxpayer dollars intended to feed hungry children.

Foxx wrote on X that it’s “[t]ime for answers.” Democrats are accusing Republicans of using official resources (congressional oversight) to go after an opposing party member.