MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (Diya TV) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accused President Donald Trump and his administration of using fraud concerns as a political weapon after federal officials paused child care payments to the state. Walz said the move hurts working families and undermines programs that support children, seniors, and low-income residents.

Walz made his comments this week after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services froze child care funding to Minnesota amid increased federal scrutiny of alleged fraud in the state’s social services programs. The dispute has intensified an ongoing debate over fraud prevention, federal oversight, and the role of politics in social welfare funding.

Walz said the pause in payments fits what he called Trump’s “long game.” He argued that his administration has spent years fighting fraud and holding bad actors accountable.

“We’ve spent years cracking down on fraudsters,” Walz wrote Tuesday on the social media platform X. “It’s a serious issue — but this has been his plan all along.”

Walz added that Trump is politicizing fraud investigations to justify defunding programs that help Minnesotans. In a separate post Wednesday morning, Walz said Trump is “using an issue he doesn’t give a damn about as an excuse to hurt working Minnesotans.”

The governor said the funding freeze threatens child care providers and families who rely on federal support to keep services running.

HHS froze child care payments earlier Tuesday. Deputy HHS Secretary Jim O’Neill said he demanded an audit from Walz focused on day care centers highlighted in a recent video by YouTuber Nick Shirley.

O’Neill said all payments from the Administration for Children and Families to states nationwide will now require prior justification. States must also provide receipts or photo evidence to support spending.

Vice President JD Vance praised the move. He wrote on X that the steps are among the “most important” actions needed to end fraud in Minnesota.

Other federal agencies have also taken action. The Department of Homeland Security sent agents to Minneapolis. The Small Business Administration paused certain grants to the state. Together, the moves signal a broader federal crackdown tied to the Minnesota fraud investigations.

Federal prosecutors have investigated fraud within Minnesota’s social services programs for several years. Since 2022, the Justice Department has charged 98 people in connection with a sweeping fraud case. The case centers on businesses that allegedly billed state programs for services they never provided.

Joseph Thompson, an assistant U.S. attorney for Minnesota, said earlier this month that “half or more” of the $18 billion billed to 14 services under the Minnesota Department of Human Services since 2018 could be fraudulent.

However, court records reviewed by the Minnesota Star Tribune suggest a much lower figure. Those records indicate the alleged fraud totals closer to $218 million. The wide gap between the estimates has fueled political tension and raised questions about oversight and accountability.

Walz said Minnesota has not ignored the problem. He pointed to multiple steps his administration has taken to strengthen fraud prevention. In October, Walz ordered a third-party audit of 14 state programs under scrutiny. The review includes the Housing Stabilization Services program, which the state has since shut down.

Earlier this month, Walz appointed Tim O’Malley as director of program integrity. O’Malley’s role focuses on improving oversight and preventing fraud across state agencies. Walz said Minnesota has referred cases to law enforcement, closed high-risk programs, and increased audits over several years. He rejected claims that the state failed to act or tolerated abuse of public funds.

The child care funding pause has raised concerns among providers and parents. Many centers depend on federal payments to cover staffing, rent, and supplies. A prolonged freeze could force closures or reduce access to care. Walz said the dispute should not come at the expense of families who rely on affordable child care. He urged federal officials to restore payments while audits continue.