Bessent says fraud money tracked overseas as Omar rebuts terror link on Face the Nation
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Face the Nation that funds tied to the Feeding Our Future fraud have “gone overseas” and that Treasury is tracing transfers to the Middle East and Somalia, while alleging some charged individuals donated to Gov. Tim Walz, Rep. Ilhan Omar and AG Keith Ellison as part of a broader probe into whether pandemic-era Minnesota welfare fraud — estimated at about $250 million — reached al-Shabaab. Omar rebutted the suggestion, saying any terror link would be “a failure of the FBI,” noting her campaign returned implicated donations years ago and that she had asked USDA to scrutinize the program, while a 2019 state audit found it could not substantiate claims that Child Care Assistance funds went to terrorist groups.
📌 Key Facts
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Face the Nation that money tied to the Minnesota Feeding Our Future fraud "has gone overseas," and said Treasury is tracking flows to the Middle East and Somalia to determine their uses; he cited a Nov. 19 City Journal report alleging Minnesota welfare funds reached al Shabaab.
- Bessent alleged some individuals charged in the case donated to Gov. Tim Walz, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
- The Feeding Our Future matter is an alleged $250 million fraud scheme that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Minnesota Republicans, including Rep. Tom Emmer, have pressed federal prosecutors to investigate whether welfare funds were diverted overseas.
- U.S. Attorney Andy Lugar (Minnesota) told the Star Tribune he believes the Feeding Our Future defendants aimed to get rich, not to fund overseas terrorism.
- A 2019 Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor report said it was unable to substantiate claims that Child Care Assistance Program funds went to terrorist groups, though it said such transfers were possible.
- Rep. Ilhan Omar rejected a terrorism link, saying any connection would be "a failure of the FBI and our court system," noting her campaign returned implicated donations "a couple of years ago," that she had asked the USDA to scrutinize the program, and condemning the president’s recent remarks about Somali immigrants as "disgusting" and potentially dangerous.
📊 Relevant Data
In the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, 70 people were charged with defrauding more than $250 million from federal child nutrition programs, with nearly all defendants from the Somali community, while Somalis make up 1.12% of Minnesota's population.
A Somali-American former investigator: why you're hearing so much about fraud in my community — Minnesota Reformer
According to the 2019-2023 American Community Survey, 42.4% of Somali households in the United States receive SNAP benefits.
Fact checking a viral chart on US food stamps recipients’ race, ethnicity — Al Jazeera
Personal remittances received by Somalia totaled $2,118,090,000 in 2024, representing 17.5% of the country's GDP.
Personal remittances, received (current US$) - Somalia, Fed. Rep. — World Bank
📰 Sources (3)
- Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Face the Nation that money tied to the Minnesota fraud scheme 'has gone overseas,' and Treasury is tracking flows to the Middle East and Somalia to determine their uses.
- Bessent alleged some individuals charged in the fraud donated to Gov. Tim Walz, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and AG Keith Ellison.
- Rep. Ilhan Omar said any link between the fraud proceeds and terrorism would constitute 'a failure of the FBI and our court system,' asserted her campaign returned implicated donations 'a couple of years ago,' and noted she previously asked USDA to scrutinize the program.
- Omar condemned the president’s recent remarks about Somali immigrants as 'disgusting' and warned such rhetoric can spur dangerous actions.
- CBS specifies Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shared a Nov. 19 City Journal report alleging Minnesota welfare funds reached al Shabaab.
- Adds that Minnesota Republicans, including Rep. Tom Emmer, pressed federal prosecutors to investigate.
- Context from a 2019 Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor report: it was unable to substantiate claims that Child Care Assistance Program funds went to terrorist groups, though it said such transfers were possible.
- U.S. Attorney Andy Lugar (Minnesota) told the Star Tribune last month that Feeding Our Future defendants aimed to get rich, not fund overseas terrorism.
- Recaps the scale of the Feeding Our Future case: a $250 million fraud scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic.