Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that the Trump administration is investigating claims that Minnesota taxpayer money was diverted to Al-Shabaab, the Somalia-based militant group, in a case that has drawn national attention amid broader scrutiny of fraud involving public assistance and pandemic-era programs.
Bessent announced the probe in a post on X, saying he ordered the investigation after finding Minnesota tax funds went to Al-Shabaab “under the feckless mismanagement of the Biden Administration and Governor Tim Walz.”
He added: “Thanks to the leadership of @POTUS @realDonaldTrump, we are acting fast to ensure Americans’ taxes are not funding acts of global terror,” and said Treasury would “share our findings as our investigation continues.”
The Treasury announcement follows reporting circulated by conservative outlets, including City Journal, which alleged that millions of dollars tied to wage and welfare programs in Minnesota ultimately benefited Al-Shabaab through fraud and overseas transfers.
The dispute lands against the backdrop of the Feeding Our Future investigation, a sweeping federal case in Minnesota involving misuse of contentiously overseen child nutrition funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. Federal prosecutors said five defendants were convicted by a jury for their roles in a $250 million fraud scheme exploiting a federally funded child nutrition program.
Former U.S. Attorney Andy Luger, who announced the Feeding Our Future convictions, told The Minnesota Star Tribune that those convicted in that case “were looking to get rich, not fund overseas terrorism,” drawing a distinction between personal profiteering and claims of intentional terrorist financing.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) has said he welcomes federal scrutiny of fraud claims while cautioning against targeting the state’s Somali community.
“Do not paint an entire group of people [Somali nationals] with that same brush—demonizing them, putting them at risk when there is no proof to do that,” Walz said. “But if you want to help us and you want to go after the criminals and make sure there’s no connection or find out where the money went, we welcome that. We’ll work with you on that.”
Last month, Trump revoked legal protections for Somali residents in Minnesota, asserting the state is “a hub of fraudulent money laundering activity” under Walz—claims Walz and local officials have rejected.
In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote: “Somali gangs are terrorizing the people of that great State, and BILLIONS of Dollars are missing,” adding: “Send them back to where they came from. It’s OVER!”
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WELL DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!