Walz Administration Says It ‘Strengthened Oversight’ After Viral Documentary Highlights Fraud Claims

Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s office said on Sunday it launched new investigations in response to a viral video further documenting evidence of fraud in the state.

A new documentary produced by independent journalist Nick Shirley highlights visits to more than 20 licensed childcare and healthcare providers participating in state-funded assistance programs that appeared to be non-operational during the visits. Walz’s office responded to the video in a statement provided to FOX News, claiming his administration has “strengthened oversight,” in response to the documented fraud schemes.

“The governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and ask the state legislature for more authority to take aggressive action,” Walz’s office told Fox News on Sunday night. “He has strengthened oversight — including launching investigations into these specific facilities, one of which was already closed.”

Walz’s office added that the administration had “hired an outside firm to audit payments to high-risk programs, shut down the Housing Stabilization Services program entirely, announced a new statewide program integrity director, and supported criminal prosecutions.”

In one viral moment, Shirley goes to a building displaying a misspelled sign reading “Quality Learing Center.”

“Quality Learning Center is a daycare, yet they spelled ‘Learning’ wrong and they said ‘Learing.’ This daycare alone in 1025 has received $1.9 million from the government,” Shirley says of the facility. “The strange thing about these childcare centers is there’s no one here right now. It’s midday on a weekday. If you were to try to go inside, it’s completely closed and the windows are all blacked out. No one’s working midday. Children should be in here, and this place is licensed for 99 children.”