MINNEAPOLIS, MN — In recent months, Minnesota has found itself at the center of the largest COVID-era fraud case in the United States, a scandal that has swept up dozens of individuals, implicated nonprofit organizations, and cast a long shadow over the state’s political leadership. As the scope of the fraud continues to widen, questions are being raised not just about those who perpetrated the crimes, but also about the officials and systems that allowed it to happen — with Representative Ilhan Omar, a prominent voice in Minnesota politics, now facing mounting criticism for her response.

A Fraud of Unprecedented Scale

The roots of the scandal trace back to the pandemic, when emergency federal funds were disbursed to support child nutrition programs as millions of American families struggled with food insecurity. In Minnesota, the nonprofit “Feeding Our Future” became the epicenter of what prosecutors now call the largest COVID-related food fraud in the nation.

Over the past three years, federal investigators have charged at least 78 people in connection with the scheme, alleging that they created shell companies, fabricated meal programs, and submitted fake invoices and attendance rosters. The government, relying on these fraudulent records, reimbursed the organizations for meals that were never served. The estimated losses run into the hundreds of millions, with some reports suggesting that as much as $500 million may have been siphoned from taxpayer-funded nutrition programs.

According to court documents and investigative reports, the fraud was not the work of a few rogue actors. Instead, authorities describe a coordinated network of individuals and businesses, many of whom had prior histories of financial misconduct. In one example, Usuzman Kamar, previously banned from the SNAP food assistance program for suspected fraud, was able to re-enter the system through a different program, enrolling his store KS Grocery in the child nutrition scheme overseen by Feeding Our Future. Despite red flags and a history of disqualification, he was approved by state authorities and ultimately received over $1 million in reimbursements for meals he claimed to serve — a number that investigators say was wildly inflated.

The Safari Restaurant in downtown Minneapolis, another focal point of the investigation, allegedly claimed to serve over 18,000 meals per day despite seating only 35 people. Its owner is currently in federal custody, and the restaurant has become a symbol of the scandal’s audacity and the apparent failure of oversight.

Allegations of Money Laundering and Terrorism Links

As the investigation has deepened, federal sources have suggested that some of the stolen funds were laundered through shell companies and sent overseas, including to Somalia. There are unconfirmed reports that a portion of the money may have ended up in the hands of al-Shabaab, a Somali-based terrorist group with links to al-Qaeda. While no direct evidence has been publicly presented tying the fraud’s proceeds to terrorist financing, the possibility has fueled political controversy and national headlines.

President Trump, seizing on the scandal, has called for an end to deportation protections for Somali nationals in Minnesota and labeled the state a “hub for Somali gang networks,” though he has not provided evidence for these sweeping claims. The rhetoric has further inflamed tensions in the state, which is home to the largest Somali immigrant community in the United States.

Political Fallout and Omar’s Response

Amidst the arrests and indictments, Representative Ilhan Omar — the nation’s first Somali-American member of Congress and a high-profile progressive — has come under fire from critics who accuse her of failing to condemn the fraud forcefully. Instead, they argue, Omar has focused her attention on those exposing the scandal and has characterized the response as an attack on the Somali community.

In public remarks, Omar has emphasized that the wrongdoing of individuals should not be used to demonize an entire community. “In this country, we do not blame the lawlessness of an individual on a whole community,” she told supporters, drawing applause. “If a person commits a crime, they face justice. You don’t put that crime on a whole community.”

Omar has also pushed back against allegations that Somali politicians or community leaders were complicit in the fraud, and has warned that inflammatory language — particularly suggestions that money was funneled to terrorist groups — puts innocent lives at risk. “There is not a single piece of evidence that taxpayer resources from Minnesota have gone to aid and abet terrorism,” she said, calling such accusations “dangerous.”

She further argued that “Somalis are not terrorizing this nation. We are helping it thrive,” pointing to the many Somali-Americans who serve as teachers, nurses, engineers, public servants, and members of the U.S. military.

Critics Demand Accountability

Despite Omar’s defense of her community, critics — including conservative commentators and Republican lawmakers — argue that her response has been inadequate. They contend that the scale of the fraud, which has now led to more than 85 indictments (the majority of Somali descent), cannot be dismissed as the work of a few bad actors. Instead, they say, it points to systemic failures in oversight, a culture of permissiveness within state agencies, and a reluctance among some leaders to confront uncomfortable truths.

“This isn’t just about a handful of people breaking the rules,” said David Gaither, a former Minnesota state senator. “This took coordination. This took a network. And it happened right under the noses of those in charge.”

Investigative reporters have highlighted how many of those accused were able to exploit weaknesses in the system, sometimes with the tacit approval or negligence of state agencies. In some cases, individuals previously barred from federal programs for fraud were able to re-enter through different channels and continue collecting taxpayer funds.

State Leadership Under Fire

The scandal has also put Governor Tim Walz and other Democratic leaders in the hot seat. On NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Walz was questioned about the failure to stop the fraud, which reportedly cost the state more than it spends annually on its Department of Corrections.

Walz defended his administration’s record, noting that dozens of people have been charged and some have already been convicted and sentenced. “Governors don’t get to just talk theoretically. We have to solve problems,” he said. “People who are taking advantage are going to prison. That is totally disconnected with demonizing an entire group of people who came here fleeing civil war and created a vibrant community.”

Still, critics point out that the fraud ran for years, with multiple warnings and red flags ignored. They argue that Minnesota’s reputation as a generous, well-run state made it a target for criminals, but that is no excuse for the lack of oversight.

“You don’t get hundreds of millions of dollars stolen without a culture that allows it,” one commentator noted. “You don’t get this level of corruption without people in government choosing to look the other way.”

A Community Caught in the Crossfire

For Minnesota’s Somali community, the scandal has been a double-edged sword. On the one hand, many have condemned the fraud and called for those responsible to be held accountable. On the other, they fear being unfairly tarred by the actions of a few, especially in an environment of rising anti-immigrant sentiment.

Federal sources have noted a saying in the Somali community: “When it rains in Minneapolis, umbrellas go up in Mogadishu.” The implication is that consequences in Minnesota reverberate all the way to Somalia — not just in terms of money, but in the reputation and safety of Somali-Americans.

Omar and others have warned that the focus on Somali defendants risks inflaming prejudice and undermining the contributions of Somali-Americans to Minnesota and the nation.

The Search for Solutions

As the investigation continues, with more indictments expected, the question remains: How did such a massive fraud persist for so long, and what can be done to prevent it from happening again?

Some have called for a complete overhaul of the state’s oversight mechanisms, stricter vetting of organizations receiving federal funds, and greater transparency in the disbursement of aid. Others argue that political leaders must be willing to confront uncomfortable realities, even when they involve their own communities or political allies.

At the same time, there is a growing recognition that the vast majority of Somali-Americans — like the vast majority of Minnesotans — are law-abiding citizens who want to see justice done and taxpayer funds protected.

Conclusion

The Feeding Our Future scandal has exposed deep flaws in Minnesota’s oversight of federal relief funds and has become a flashpoint in the state’s political and cultural life. As federal prosecutors continue to bring charges and as political leaders debate responsibility, the case serves as a sobering reminder of the challenges facing public institutions in a crisis — and the dangers of allowing identity politics to overshadow accountability.

Whether Minnesota’s leaders, including Ilhan Omar, can restore public trust will depend not just on rhetoric, but on real reforms and a willingness to confront the failures that allowed this unprecedented fraud to happen.