Wisconsin ‘refusing to learn the lesson’ of Minnesota after fraud scandal, GOP gubernatorial hopeful warns
In a recent statement, Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Republican from Wisconsin, expressed concern over the potential for food stamp fraud in his state, drawing parallels to a significant fraud scheme that has recently come to light in neighboring Minnesota. This scheme allegedly involved members of the Twin Cities’ Somali community diverting taxpayer-funded meal money, with some funds reportedly ending up with the terrorist group Al-Shabaab. Tiffany criticized Wisconsin’s Democratic Governor Tony Evers for his refusal to cooperate with federal audits aimed at detecting fraud within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps. In a letter intended for Evers, Tiffany emphasized that the mismanagement and lack of transparency in Minnesota’s food security programs should serve as a cautionary tale for Wisconsin. He argued that such negligence could jeopardize the integrity of SNAP and its ability to support those who genuinely need it.
Tiffany’s remarks come in the wake of Evers’ public dismissal of requests from USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins for access to Wisconsin’s food stamp rolls for fraud investigations. Evers defended his position by stating that the system is already analyzed annually and expressed skepticism about the motives behind the federal request. He highlighted the importance of protecting families who rely on food stamps for nutritious meals. However, Tiffany countered that Evers’ stance effectively prioritizes the interests of scammers over the needs of legitimate beneficiaries, warning that Wisconsin could face a crisis similar to Minnesota’s if proper oversight is not implemented. This situation has sparked a broader debate about the effectiveness of SNAP and the responsibility of state governments to ensure the program is not exploited.
The controversy has also drawn responses from other Wisconsin Republicans, who argue that Evers’ refusal to allow federal oversight is detrimental to families relying on food assistance. They contend that the political motivations behind Evers’ decision may be sacrificing the welfare of constituents for partisan reasons. As the discussion unfolds, the implications of food stamp fraud and the need for accountability in public assistance programs remain critical issues for both states and their residents. With Tiffany positioning himself for a gubernatorial run in 2026, this issue may become a focal point in his campaign, as he seeks to differentiate himself from the current administration’s approach to food security and welfare programs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnkVgVWpb-I
EXCLUSIVE:
Minnesota’s Democrat-led neighbor could be missing a chance to prevent a Feeding Our Future–style crisis, Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., warned Thursday.
Minnesota Gov.
Tim Walz
has faced widening scrutiny over a fraud scheme in which members of the Twin Cities’ Somali community allegedly diverted taxpayer-funded meal money overseas, including to terror group Al-Shabaab.
Tiffany, who is running to be Wisconsin’s governor in 2026, slammed retiring incumbent Democratic Gov. Tony Evers for prominently rebuking the Trump administration’s efforts to conduct audits of SNAP — food stamp — programs in the 50 states.
On Thursday, Tiffany’s office shared a letter with Fox News Digital that he planned to send to Evers later in the day.
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“Like many Wisconsin residents, I was disappointed by your recent public statements ruling out cooperation with the federal government to detect fraud in the food stamp program,” Tiffany wrote. “We should all be able to agree that fraud and abuse in vital safety net programs is unacceptable, which is why I hope you will reconsider your position.
“Your position on this matter is even more shocking given recent developments in our neighboring state of Minnesota. There, the governor’s mismanagement and lack of transparency in
food security programs
have led to multiple investigations of a taxpayer-funded fraud scheme totaling a staggering $1 billion that allegedly involved Somalian terrorists.”
The Minocqua congressman said failure to police SNAP abuses jeopardizes the program’s longevity and ability to
serve the Wisconsinites
who legally rely on it and that withholding such information is “effectively prioritizing the ability of scammers and illegal aliens to bilk this program.
“This makes no sense,” he added.
Earlier Thursday, Tiffany took to social media to castigate Evers for balking at USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins’ request.
”
Governor Evers
is refusing to let federal agencies check Wisconsin’s food stamp rolls for fraud,” Tiffany wrote on Facebook.
MINNESOTA GOVERNMENT WORKERS BLAME WALZ FOR ‘MASSIVE FRAUD’ AMID ALLEGATIONS AGAINST SOMALI COMMUNITY
“What are Democrats hiding? We do not want to end up like Minnesota with billions in stolen tax dollars.”
Tiffany’s post was explicitly responding to Evers’
recent interview
with Matt Smith of Milwaukee’s ABC affiliate, who had asked him about his refusal to let the USDA audit the food stamp program.
Smith paraphrased Rollins’ critiques of SNAP as a “broken program full of bad things,” adding that Rollins pointed out that 29 states agreed to give federal officials access to investigate fraud.
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“That system is analyzed every single year, and we feel confident in it,” Evers told Smith. “The idea they’re asking for this information; they’re looking for ways to get out of doing it, frankly. And that is inappropriate.”
Evers said the request
was inappropriate given that his state has families who rely on the program to ensure proper, nutritious meals.
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Near the end of November’s
government shutdown
, Evers also balked at the Trump administration’s request that states undo payments to programs like Wisconsin’s FoodShare in light of the USDA canceling monthly disbursements until the government reopened.
Wisconsin and several prominent blue states, including Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Washington, California, New York and New Jersey — as well as Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro given that state’s Republican Attorney General David Sunday was not on board — wrote a letter to the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston asking it to stop Trump’s SNAP-back effort.
When Evers and other governors received a response from the administration demanding they yank payments, Evers responded with a statement that contained a single-worded first lin, “No.”
FOOD-STAMP FRAUD NUMBERS EXPOSE WHICH STATES ARE DRAINING THE MOST TAXPAYER DOLLARS
Other
Wisconsin Republicans
also defended the USDA, with Rep. Bryan Steil of Kenosha telling The Center Square that the Badger State’s food stamp recipients were the ones being hurt by Democrats’ longtime refusal to reopen the government.
“Their radical base is demanding that they do anything to try to ‘stand up to Trump.’ What does that mean? They’re willing to put American families through a ton of pain,” Steil said.
Another Wisconsin Republican led an effort to get the feds to create a carveout for SNAP funding as the shutdown battle raged.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., co-sponsored a bill with Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, and
told reporters
in Madison where he was testifying in support of homeless veterans’ assistance that he was raised in “abject rural poverty” and was in one of many American families that relied on food stamps.
Evers did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
