TL;DR
A community-narrated timeline traces a multi-year fraud probe centered on the Feeding Our Future program and escalating federal intervention in Minnesota through funding freezes, audits and large-scale immigration enforcement. The dispute has produced criminal convictions, hundreds of indictments, mass arrests, and political fallout for state leaders.
What happened
A community-maintained chronology documents a prolonged confrontation between Minnesota authorities and federal agencies beginning with the 2016 founding of Feeding Our Future and moving through a sequence of audits, investigations and prosecutions. The IRS revoked the group’s tax-exempt status in early 2020; state education officials raised fraud concerns that prompted USDA and FBI attention in 2021. By 2022 prosecutors announced indictments alleging roughly $250 million in fraud, and several defendants were later convicted. In late 2025, a conservative influencer published video alleging further fraud in Minneapolis daycare sites; within days the federal Health and Human Services department froze child-care payments to Minnesota (about $185 million per year) and DHS began deploying agents. In early January 2026, a broader operation sent roughly 2,000 ICE and Border Patrol personnel to Minneapolis, during which officials reported more than 150 arrests on the first day. Federal agencies also opened audits of Minnesota Medicaid and set a January 10 deadline for a comprehensive state audit of child-care funds.
Why it matters
- Federal funding freezes could disrupt child-care payments and related services tied to the state’s administration of federal funds.
- Expanded federal audits elevate scrutiny beyond child-care programs into Medicaid and other federally backed spending.
- Large-scale immigration enforcement deployments and arrests have heightened community tensions and prompted protests.
- The dispute has produced legal and political consequences at the state level, including guilty verdicts and a change in the governor’s reelection plans.
Key facts
- Feeding Our Future was founded in November 2016, according to the timeline.
- The IRS revoked Feeding Our Future’s tax-exempt status in early 2020.
- The FBI began investigating Feeding Our Future in February 2021 after state education officials raised concerns.
- Prosecutors announced indictments in September 2022 that the timeline summarizes as totaling about $250 million.
- Five of seven defendants in the Feeding Our Future case were found guilty as of June 7, 2024.
- Feeding Our Future founder Aimee Bock was convicted on federal charges in March 2025.
- By November 24, 2025 the 78th individual was charged in the scheme, per the timeline.
- On Dec. 29, 2025 HHS announced a freeze on all child-care payments to Minnesota, cited as roughly $185 million annually.
- DHS and other federal agencies began deploying personnel to Minneapolis at the end of December 2025; Operation Metro Surge in early January 2026 involved roughly 2,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents.
- Federal officials reported more than 150 arrests on the first day of enforcement operations.
What to watch next
- Outcome of the HHS-required comprehensive state audit for child-care funds — not confirmed in the source
- Results of the CMS audit of Minnesota Medicaid bills and any subsequent federal actions — not confirmed in the source
- Further criminal prosecutions or additional indictments tied to the Feeding Our Future investigation — not confirmed in the source
- Local political repercussions and community responses to enforcement activity, including protests — not confirmed in the source
Quick glossary
- Feeding Our Future: A nonprofit organization referenced in the timeline that provided meal services and later became the subject of fraud allegations and investigations.
- CCDF: Child Care and Development Fund — a federal program that provides funding to states for child-care subsidies and related services.
- DHS: Department of Homeland Security — the federal agency that oversees immigration enforcement and other domestic security functions.
- CMS: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services — the federal agency that administers parts of the Medicaid program and related federal health-care financing.
- Indictment: A formal charge issued by prosecutors alleging that an individual committed a crime; it initiates criminal prosecution but is not a conviction.
Reader FAQ
What triggered federal involvement in Minnesota?
State education officials reported concerns about Feeding Our Future, leading to USDA and FBI scrutiny; later reporting and allegations prompted additional federal actions.
Have federal payments to Minnesota been stopped?
HHS announced a freeze on child-care payments to Minnesota on Dec. 29, 2025, cited at roughly $185 million per year.
Did federal law enforcement deploy to Minneapolis?
Yes. The timeline documents DHS-related deployments in late December 2025 and an Operation Metro Surge in January 2026 that involved about 2,000 ICE and Border Patrol agents.
Were there convictions tied to the Feeding Our Future case?
Yes. The timeline notes multiple guilty findings, including five defendants convicted by June 2024 and the founder convicted in March 2025.
Is the final outcome of federal audits and enforcement known?
Not confirmed in the source.
Nick shirley @nickshirleyy · Follow 🚨 Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet. We uncovered…
Sources
- Minnesota vs. US Federal Government Timeline Project
- Timeline: Breaking down key events in Minnesota's fraud …
- Trump administration plans aggressive immigration …
- A timeline of the 'largest COVID-19 fraud scheme …
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