WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued a subpoena for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, requesting additional documents regarding the mismanagement of funds resulting in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme.

Along with Governor Walz, the Committee issued subpoenas for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong, and Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) Commissioner Willie Jett.

“The Biden-Harris Administration and the Walz Administration oversaw the exploitation of $250 million in child nutrition program funds, resulting in the largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the nation,” said Rep. Finstad “This egregious mismanagement of funds meant to feed hungry children should have never happened, and we must ensure that it never happens again. I commend Chairwoman Foxx for issuing these subpoenas and providing the American people the transparency they deserve.”

Today’s action continues ongoing congressional oversight efforts beginning in 2022 by Rep. Finstad, alongside House Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson, and Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, as well as the Republican members of the Minnesota delegation, including:

• A September 30, 2022, letter sent to Secretary Vilsack requesting documents related to improper payments administered by USDA’s Food & Nutrition Service (FNS). 

• After more than six months passed with no response from the administration, Rep. Finstad questioned Secretary Vilsack at a House Agriculture Committee hearing about USDA’s lack of oversight into its child nutrition programs and again requested USDA respond to the September 2022 request for information on the lack of oversight in FNS programs that led to the alleged Feeding Our Future fraud.

• A July 20, 2023, letter to Secretary Vilsack reiterating their September 2022 request for USDA to provide information and documents related to the mismanagement of its child nutrition programs.

• A November 14, 2023, letter to Governor Walz and MDE Commissioner Jett requesting all documentation related to MDE’s oversight of Feeding Our Future.

• A June 12, 2024, letter to Governor Walz and MDE Commissioner Jett requesting all communications between MDE and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, USDA, or the Office of the Governor of Minnesota, among other communications.

Additionally, Rep. Finstad introduced H.R. 4786, the Feeding Children Not Fraudsters Act, which would audit any cases of COVID-related fraud through USDA child nutrition programs.

To date, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged 70 individuals for allegedly exploiting $250 million in pandemic-era relief funds fraudulently obtained by Feeding Our Future, a Minnesota-based nonprofit organization participating in the Federal Child Nutrition Program.