Washington, D.C
D.C. Memo: Congress joins flood of federal probes into Minnesota
WASHINGTON — The federal government’s unprecedented assault on Minnesota continued to escalate this week with the announcement of a new congressional investigation into a web of allegations that funds from a number of federal agencies were subject to fraud.
The U.S. departments of the treasury, labor, justice, education and health and human services, the Small Business Administration, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minnesota and other federal agencies have already launched investigations into what they claim is the wide misuse of federal funds in the state — and say Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is at fault.
The governor’s office said the avalanche of federal probes is an orchestrated political assault on Walz, who is running for reelection.
“This is clearly a coordinated political attack to try to silence one of the President’s most effective critics,” it said in a statement. “The governor takes fraud seriously and wishes they would too.”
There’s a “flood the zone” strategy to the Trump administration’s focus on Minnesota.
The state’s unemployment insurance program is under investigation. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has said President Donald Trump directed her to look into immigrants’ visas in Minnesota.
There are also probes into the state’s handling of food stamps and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Covid-era Paycheck Protection Program, transgender athletes and “ghost students” in Minnesota schools, and the use of Medicaid funds in several state social welfare programs. The Trump administration has also sought — unsuccessfully, so far — information about Minnesota voter registrations.
Now Rep. James Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has gotten into the act, expanding the panel’s probe into fraud in Minnesota programs. Comer held dozens of hearings during the ramp up to the 2024 presidential election focused on alleged influence peddling schemes by former President Joe Biden’s son Hunter and other Biden family members, but that massive probe failed to lead to an impeachment vote.
As the Kentucky Republican has attracted national attention holding the gavel of that top U.S. House investigative committee, he’s been described by admirers as dogged and dismissed by detractors as overly politically partisan, over-reaching and too headline driven.
More recently, Comer’s panel has been involved in interviewing witnesses and obtaining records related to the government’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, Biden’s use of an autopen and the “sanctuary” policies of Democratic mayors and governors. Walz was among officials questioned by Comer’s panel on those policies as recently as June.
Citing “whistleblowers,” Comer said in a statement this week that “American taxpayers were defrauded in Minnesota, raising serious questions about whether Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison failed to act or (were) complicit in the theft.”
“While Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison turn a blind eye to taxpayer fraud, the House Oversight Committee is acting decisively and will use its full power to protect hardworking taxpayers,” Comer said.
He sent letters to seven current and former Minnesota state agency officials at the state Department of Education and state Department of Human Services, asking them to appear for behind-closed-door interviews on certain dates in late January and February and threatening them with subpoenas if they do not comply.
Earlier this month, Comer also requested information from Walz and Ellison and said they have failed to fully respond to his panel’s request for documents and information.
Walz hit back this week with a “fraud fact sheet.”
It detailed what his administration has done to combat the avalanche of federal allegations, including establishing a new Office of Inspector General at the Minnesota Department of Education, hiring Tim O’Malley as the new “Head of Program Integrity” and implementing background checks and more frequent site visits on providers and non-profits involved in high-risk Medicaid programs.
The Walz administration also released a “MN Fraud Response” timeline with a graphic depiction of what it has done to fight or prevent fraud since 2022.
Targeting Somalis, but not in Minnesota
As the Trump administration’s crackdown on Minnesota immigrants, dubbed “Operation Metro Surge,” continues, the New York Times reported this week that Columbus, Ohio, “a blue city in a red state” with a large Somali population, is the new target of immigration enforcement.
The Somali immigrant population in Columbus is the second largest in the country, after Minneapolis.
“Somalis make up one of the largest immigrant communities in Columbus, and Somali immigrants nationwide have been a target of President Trump,” the Times said. “Earlier this month, he called them ‘garbage’ and said he wanted to send them back to their troubled homeland in East Africa.”
But, just like in the Twin Cities, most of Columbus’ Somalis have legal status. So, just as it’s happening in Operation Metro Surge, a great number of the immigrants detained in Columbus come from Latin America and other nations, the NYT said.
The raids in Columbus have prompted immigrants to stay home from work and school, the Times reported.
The paper also said the Catholic Diocese of Columbus on Tuesday announced that because of the increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in the city, parishioners would be excused from attending Mass through the Christmas season.
ICYMI
▪️Metro reporter Trevor Mitchell wrote that as “Operation Metro Surge” continues, city leaders in Minneapolis and St. Paul are seeking to strengthen local laws about when and how police interact with federal agents.
▪️Cleo Krejci wrote about a new study that suggests it’s relatively easy for underage people to buy hemp-derived THC in the Twin Cities area, despite Minnesota’s age-restriction law.
▪️Energy costs are spiking and disconnections are increasing as Minnesotans face a long winter – and the state’s utility companies are asking for new rate hikes that will continue to make heating your house more expensive.
▪️Shadi Bushra found that immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship in Minnesota are experiencing a sense of relief in securing protection from deportation during the Trump administration’s immigrant crackdown.
If you have any questions or comments, please send them my way. I’ll try my best to respond. Please contact me at aradelat@minnpost.com.
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Washington, D.C
Storm Team4 forecast, Enjoy a pleasant start to the week with temperatures in the 70s
4 things to know about the weather:
- “May” not “March” for now
- Next rain late Wednesday, Thursday
- Back to average by Friday
- Much colder next Week
The warmer weather we’ve waited months for will be with us for only three more days before the March Lion starts to roar again.
Monday and Tuesday will be the best days of the week by far. Sunny skies and temperatures running 20-25° above average. Plan for highs reaching the low 70s Monday and near 80° on Tuesday.
A series of cold fronts later in the week will send temperatures back to average 54° by the end of the week and then well below average for most of next week.
Clouds will return by Wednesday morning and rain chances will arrive no later than sunset. Wednesday will still be close to 80° and have our first taste of humidity in a while. Rain is likely from Wednesday evening through noon on Thursday as our first cold front arrives.
Thursday’s highs, likely near 70°, will occur before sunrise but gusty northwest winds will have temperatures falling steadily throughout the day. Expect temperatures in the 50s, rain for the morning commute and 40s with rain ending for the ride home.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
Warm streak won’t last long
The good news is that Friday and the upcoming weekend look dry. Highs will be back in the mid-50s for Friday and Saturday but Sunday should get back into the mid-60s.
Another cold front will arrive early next week leading to temperatures running 10-15° below average. It’s also not entirely out of the question that there could be a wet snowflake or two on St. Patrick’s Day.
The return of the cold air next week will keep the cherry trees at bay so the odds of peak bloom occurring in March, like it has the last five to six years in a row, are looking slim at best.
QuickCast
MONDAY:
Mostly Sunny
Nice And Warm
Light Breeze
Wind: Southwest 5-10 mph
Chance of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 68° to 74°
MONDAY NIGHT:
Clear Skies
Remaining Mild
Patchy Areas Of Fog
Wind: Variable 5 mph
Chance Of Rain: 0%
LOWS: 46° to 52°
TUESDAY:
Mostly Sunny
Near Record Warmth
Light Breeze
Wind: Southwest 5-10 mph
Chance of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 76° to 82°
WEDNESDAY:
Breezy, Warm And Humid
Increasing Clouds
Showers By Evening
Wind: Southwest 10-25mph
Chance of Rain: 40%
HIGHS: 75° to 80°
THURSDAY:
Cloudy, Windy, Much Colder
Rain Likely Before 2pm
Falling Temperatures
Wind: Northwest 20-35 mph
Chance of Rain: 80%
HIGHS: 65° to 45°
Sunrise: 7:29 Sunset: 7:09
Average High: 54° Average Low: 37°
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
4 things to know about the weather:
- Feeling more like spring and summer over the next 72 hours.
- Monday and Tuesday will feature plenty of sunshine.
- Almost humid and definitely warm with strong storms possible on Wednesday.
- Rain with falling temperatures and windchill in the low 40s on Thursday.
Happy daylight saving! Today was this year’s first sunset after 7 p.m. — 7:08 p.m. to be exact.
For the rest of the evening, expect clear skies, although there could be an isolated shower, especially south and east of the D.C. area.
Monday will be a beautiful day with temperatures in the upper 60s and lower 70s with plenty of sunshine.
Tuesday will get to around 80°. That could break a record of 79° sit back in 2016. Expect sunshine and dry conditions
By Wednesday, there is a possibility for severe storms in the afternoon and evening, but temperatures will once again approach 80°. Heavy rain and winds are the main thing to watch out for.
A pretty strong cold front will push through the area Thursday morning. That will bring some steady moderate rain to our area on Thursday. Temperatures will only be in the 50s, but the average high temperature for this time of year is also in the 50s, so this is actually closer to normal.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
QuickCast
SUNDAY NIGHT
Mostly clear skies
Temps: 60s and 50s
MONDAY
Sunny
HIGHS: Lower 70s
TUESDAY
Partly Sunny
HIGHS: Near 80°
WEDNESDAY
Afternoon and evening storms
HIGHS: Near 80°
THURSDAY
HIGHS: Near 50°
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
Four years ago, high school senior Aaron O’Brien wouldn’t believe he’d be studying chemistry now. Thanks to the Upward Bound program, that’s not hard to believe anymore.
“Before I came into the program, whew I don’t know who that man was,” O’Brien said.
Through free tutoring, test prep and college visits weekly, Upward Bound has helped millions of students like O’Brien, who attends McKinley Tech High School, pursue higher education.
The program is coordinated by colleges like George Washington University.
“The program has really expanded my vision for the future,” O’Brien said.
He joined Upward Bound as a freshman in high school.
“I never imagined I would be in these spaces and be able to network with so many different people,” he said.
“Upward Bound is basically a family,” said Layla Leiva, a senior at DC International School.
“A lot of us are first generation or low income. My parents do not know what the common app is, or standardized testing, and being able to have students that I can relate to meant the world for me,” she said.
Upward Bound falls under a series of federal TRIO programs funded by the Department of Education. Several programs in the series help veterans, students with disabilities, limited English and those facing foster care and homelessness.
Amid the Trump administration’s overhaul of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (D.E.I.), however, TRIO program funding was slashed because words related to the inclusionary policies were mentioned in its grant applications.
Last fall, a group that advocates for TRIO sued the Department for over $40 million in slashed grants.
Last June, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon testified at a Senate budget hearing, saying that TRIO didn’t give her apartment enough oversight.
“I just think that we aren’t able to see the effectiveness across the board that we would normally look to see with our federal spending,” McMahon said at the hearing.
When funding froze, George Washington University paused most of its programing and cut nearly all its staff.
“It was a staff of just me, I was still working with my seniors,” said George Washington’s Upward Bound director, Darrell Thornton.
After growing up in a similar program, Thornton says he wanted to give back.
“I knew I wanted to be that educator that made a difference,” he said.
Earlier this year, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s cuts, restoring funding for the program.
“It kind of felt like I was cut off from my family for a little bit. When we got back, it was like thank God,” Kevin Williams, a junior at Ron Brown Preparatory College High School said.
The university was also able to bring its staff back.
“I’m so relieved to find out this program finally has funding and that this program will continue to support students in the way that it did for me,” Leiva said.
News4 reached out to the Department of Education, but have not heard back.
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