FBI raids 22 Twin Cities child care, autism centers in fraud probe amid Trump funding freeze fight
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, FBI agents executed 22 search warrants at Medicaid-billing child care and daycare centers across the Twin Cities in a federal fraud probe tied to a funding-freeze fight; 22 search warrants.
The Justice Department said the warrants were part of an ongoing fraud investigation and not an immigration enforcement action. Local reporting said the warrants largely targeted Medicaid providers and focused on daycare operations rather than generic "child care/autism centers." The operation unfolded as President Donald Trump and his appointee JD Vance have pushed a high-profile fraud effort, and as Trump briefly froze federal childcare funds to Minnesota; Republican Rep. Tom Emmer praised the crackdown while Gov. Tim Walz called the freeze politicized and harmful.
The episode traces back to the 2022 Feeding Our Future scandal, which led to dozens of indictments and more than 60 convictions for schemes in pandemic-era nutrition programs. Investigators later found connections to Medicaid-funded autism centers and child-care assistance programs, prompting earlier raids, charges in 2025, and a string of active probes across Minnesota. State data and audits have flagged large problems, including an analysis that identified roughly $703 million in potential overspending in autism treatment claims and a state auditor finding missed kickback complaints.
Mainstream coverage initially described broad "child care/autism" targets, but local reporting sharpened the focus to Medicaid-billed daycare providers and tied the actions to a federal task force led by Vance. Officials say the investigations are continuing, and the raids add intensity to a political fight over oversight and federal funding that has sharply divided Minnesota leaders.
Show source details & analysis (2 sources)
📊 Relevant Data
An Optum analysis commissioned by the Minnesota Department of Human Services found approximately $703 million in potential overspending in the state's autism treatment program over four years, with 90% of claims from Medicaid-funded providers deviating from acceptable standards. ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252))
Medicaid fraud at Minnesota autism centers was said to be rampant. Two people have been charged. — Star Tribune
The Minnesota Department of Human Services failed to investigate three kickback complaints in its autism program due to an overly cautious interpretation of its legal authority, according to a report from the Office of the Legislative Auditor. ([FOX 9](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-dhs-failed-investigate-kickback-complaints-autism-program-auditor)) ([FOX 9](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-dhs-failed-investigate-kickback-complaints-autism-program-auditor)) ([FOX 9](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-dhs-failed-investigate-kickback-complaints-autism-program-auditor)) ([FOX 9](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-dhs-failed-investigate-kickback-complaints-autism-program-auditor)) ([FOX 9](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-dhs-failed-investigate-kickback-complaints-autism-program-auditor)) ([FOX 9](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-dhs-failed-investigate-kickback-complaints-autism-program-auditor)) ([FOX 9](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-dhs-failed-investigate-kickback-complaints-autism-program-auditor)) ([FOX 9](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-dhs-failed-investigate-kickback-complaints-autism-program-auditor)) ([FOX 9](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-dhs-failed-investigate-kickback-complaints-autism-program-auditor)) ([FOX 9](https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-dhs-failed-investigate-kickback-complaints-autism-program-auditor))
Minnesota DHS failed to investigate kickback complaints in autism program: Auditor — FOX 9
A 2019 state investigation estimated child care fraud in Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program at several million dollars, exceeding the $5 million to $6 million that prosecutors had proven through charges. ([Louisiana Illuminator](https://lailluminator.com/2026/01/11/minnesota-child-care)) ([Louisiana Illuminator](https://lailluminator.com/2026/01/11/minnesota-child-care)) ([Louisiana Illuminator](https://lailluminator.com/2026/01/11/minnesota-child-care)) ([Louisiana Illuminator](https://lailluminator.com/2026/01/11/minnesota-child-care)) ([Louisiana Illuminator](https://lailluminator.com/2026/01/11/minnesota-child-care)) ([Louisiana Illuminator](https://lailluminator.com/2026/01/11/minnesota-child-care)) ([Louisiana Illuminator](https://lailluminator.com/2026/01/11/minnesota-child-care)) ([Louisiana Illuminator](https://lailluminator.com/2026/01/11/minnesota-child-care)) ([Louisiana Illuminator](https://lailluminator.com/2026/01/11/minnesota-child-care)) ([Louisiana Illuminator](https://lailluminator.com/2026/01/11/minnesota-child-care))
Fact check: What’s really happening with child care fraud in Minnesota — Louisiana Illuminator
In pending Medicaid fraud cases across 14 high-risk programs in Minnesota, most defendants are Somali, with $34.2 million in alleged fraud. ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252)) ([Star Tribune](https://www.startribune.com/medicaid-fraud-at-minnesota-autism-centers-was-said-to-be-rampant-two-people-have-been-charged/601597252))
Medicaid fraud at Minnesota autism centers was said to be rampant. Two people have been charged. — Star Tribune
📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the Justice Department told the Guardian that the 22 Minnesota search warrants were carried out as part of an ongoing fraud investigation and were not an immigration enforcement action (22 Minnesota search warrants).
- The Guardian, citing KARE 11 reporting, says the warrants were mostly served on Medicaid providers and primarily targeted child care and daycare operations rather than generic “child care/autism centers” (KARE 11).
- The story places the raids in a political overlay: President Donald Trump appointed JD Vance as a national “fraud czar,” and Vance publicly vowed on X that the DOJ task force would be “relentless” in exposing Minnesota “fraudsters” (JD Vance).
- The Guardian reports Trump previously froze Minnesota’s childcare funding—particularly affecting Minneapolis Somali‑American childcare centers—and has framed fraud crackdowns in Democratic‑led states as large enough to “literally be able to balance our American budget” (Donald Trump)(https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/apr/28/minnesota-federal-raids-alleged-fraud).
- Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer praised the administration’s crackdown and thanked Trump—saying taxpayers are “grateful”—while Gov. Tim Walz called the funding freeze politicized and harmful to Minnesotans, according to the Guardian (Tom Emmer).
- The report reiterates broader context that more than 60 people, many Somali Americans, have already been convicted in the earlier Feeding Our Future food‑program fraud case, which began under the Biden administration (Feeding Our Future).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms Justice Department statement to the Guardian that the 22 Minnesota search warrants were part of an ongoing fraud investigation and not an immigration enforcement action.
- Adds that KARE 11 reporting indicates the warrants were mostly served on Medicaid providers, primarily targeting child care and daycare providers, sharpening the focus from generic “child care/autism centers” to Medicaid-billed daycare operations.
- Details political overlay: Donald Trump appointed JD Vance as a national “fraud czar” and Vance publicly vowed on X that DOJ and the task force would be “relentless” in exposing Minnesota “fraudsters.”
- Reports that Trump previously froze Minnesota’s childcare funding over alleged fraud, particularly in Minneapolis Somali‑American childcare centers, and is framing fraud crackdowns in Democratic-led states as large enough to “literally be able to balance our American budget,” without evidence.
- Quotes Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer praising the administration’s crackdown and thanking Trump, saying taxpayers are “grateful,” and notes Gov. Tim Walz called the funding freeze politicized and harmful to Minnesotans.
- Reiterates broader context that more than 60 people (many Somali Americans) have already been convicted in the earlier Feeding Our Future food-program fraud, which began under the Biden administration.