Walz appoints statewide fraud-prevention director and launches program-integrity push
Gov. Tim Walz on Dec. 12, 2025, formally appointed a statewide fraud-prevention director and announced a program-integrity initiative. The effort is intended to strengthen anti-fraud oversight and coordination across state agencies.
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đź“Š Relevant Data
More than $1 billion in taxpayers’ money has been stolen in three fraud plots in Minnesota, largely by members of the Somali diaspora. ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html)) ([The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/us/fraud-minnesota-somali.html))
How Fraud Swamped Minnesota’s Social Services System on Tim Walz’s Watch — The New York Times
Spending on Minnesota's autism program increased 3,000% from about $6 million in 2018 to nearly $192 million in 2023. ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/))
FBI investigates Minnesota autism centers, which have exploded in growth since 2018 — Minnesota Reformer
The number of autism providers in Minnesota increased 700% from 41 in 2018 to 328 in 2023. ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/)) ([Minnesota Reformer](https://minnesotareformer.com/2024/06/18/feds-investigating-minnesota-autism-centers-which-have-exploded-in-growth-since-2018/))
FBI investigates Minnesota autism centers, which have exploded in growth since 2018 — Minnesota Reformer
Proposed causes of high autism rates among the Somali diaspora include genetics, vitamin D deficiency, and environmental toxins. ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792)) ([Scientific Research Publishing](https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=118792))
A Review of Autism Spectrum Disorder among the Somali Diaspora — Scientific Research Publishing
đź“Ś Key Facts
- Gov. Tim Walz appointed a statewide fraud‑prevention director.
- The appointment was made on Dec. 12, 2025.
- The role is a statewide director position focused on fraud prevention.
- Walz announced a program‑integrity initiative alongside the appointment.
- The program‑integrity initiative is intended to strengthen anti‑fraud oversight across state agencies.
đź“° Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Gov. Tim Walz formally appointed a statewide fraud‑prevention director on Dec. 12, 2025.
- Alongside the appointment, Walz announced a program‑integrity initiative to strengthen anti‑fraud oversight across state agencies.