White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that the Trump administration is ramping up federal investigations into widespread fraud uncovered in Minnesota, warning that “people will be in handcuffs” as multiple agencies execute warrants, subpoenas, and deportations tied to the scandal.
“President Trump is not going to let Governor Walz off the hook,” Leavitt told Fox & Friends. “This is a top priority for the administration.”
The growing probe follows revelations that billions of taxpayer dollars may have been stolen through fraudulent childcare, nutrition, and healthcare programs under the administration of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Leavitt confirmed that the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are leading the coordinated effort to uncover and prosecute those responsible.
“The Department of Justice, as we speak, is continuing to execute search warrants and subpoenas,” Leavitt said. “The Department of Homeland Security is conducting door-to-door investigations on the ground at potential fraud sites, and they’re also conducting continued deportations of illegal aliens in Minnesota’s communities.”
ICE Director Todd Lyons said earlier this week that federal agents have been on the ground in Minneapolis “conducting large-scale investigations” after viral video evidence surfaced showing multiple Somali-run daycare centers receiving state funds despite appearing empty or closed.
Leavitt emphasized that the White House has empowered federal agencies to use all available legal tools to ensure accountability.
“We’re also not afraid to use denaturalization,” she said. “That’s a tool at the president and the Secretary of State’s disposal, and it’s one this administration has previously used before.”
Republican lawmakers are urging President Donald Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act against Minnesota Governor Tim Walz after the Democrat warned that he could deploy the National Guard in response to federal immigration enforcement actions in his state.
“Invoke the Insurrection Act. Arrest Tim Walz,” Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., said in a post to X on Wednesday evening.
Miller’s calls to enforce the law granting the president the authority to arrest individuals obstructing federal law enforcement come in response to Walz’s suggestion that he might call in the National Guard to counter Trump’s deployment of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The threat from Walz comes after an ICE agent shot and killed 37-year-old Nicole Good of Minneapolis on Wednesday after she tried blocking agents in the street and then hit one with her vehicle.
“We do not need any further help from the federal government. To Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, you’ve done enough. I’ve issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard,” Walz said in a press event.
“We have soldiers in training and prepared to be deployed if necessary. I remind you, a warning order is a heads-up for folks,” Walz said. “Minnesota will not allow our community to be used as a prop in a national political fight.”
Other Republicans echoed Miller’s call.
When asked whether he supported Miller’s demand, Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Ga., stated that he was unsure how else the administration might interpret Walz’s intentions.
“If he says with that intent to oppose — you’re bringing in military force. Let’s lay that out. I’m going to bring out military force to oppose a federal armed force. What does that sound like to the average person? Kind of like you want to go to war,” McCormick told Fox News.
“I don’t know how else to take that,” McCormick said. “That does not give me any indication other than you want start some stuff. And when I say ‘stuff’ I’m being very polite.”
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., also condemned Walz’s thinly veiled threat.
“The last time they did that was at Fort Sumter and it started the Civil War,” said Van Orden, referring to the opening clash between the Confederate and Union forces in 1861 in South Carolina.
“If a state militia acts against the federal government that is actually a civil war. So that guy needs to shut his d-mn mouth now because he is calling for civil war. [Tim] Walz is an absolute moron,” Van Orden said.
“Someone remind him: Donald Trump is the Commander in Chief. And federal authority supersedes state authority. That’s not an opinion, that’s the Constitution,” Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., said in her own post.
“What Walz is threatening has a name: insurrection. Mr. President, the law is on your side. Use it,” she added.
