U.S. Treasury Department

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent issued a Geographic Targeting Order requiring enhanced reporting by Minnesota money services businesses and has deployed Treasury personnel on the ground as FinCEN and the IRS prepare Notices of Investigation and heightened examinations, with reports to be rapidly shared with law enforcement. The actions tie to scrutiny of the Feeding Our Future pandemic‑era fraud — a roughly $250 million scheme that has produced about $60 million recovered, at least 77 indictments and high‑profile sentences — as Treasury says it is tracking transfers to the Middle East and Somalia amid disputed claims about links to al-Shabaab (investigators have also documented extensive luxury spending) and allegations by Bessent that some defendants donated to Minnesota officials.