Senator John Kennedy recently brought a serious issue to the Senate’s attention during a speech on December 3, 2025. He alleged that federal prosecutors had revealed nearly $1 billion in welfare fraud tied to three significant schemes in Minnesota, particularly involving the Somali community. Kennedy noted he was presenting facts, not making broader allegations against the community itself. This distinction was crucial for framing his statements amid a sensitive topic.
Kennedy opened by showcasing the United States as a country known for its generosity in helping those in need. However, he condemned the exploitation of this generosity, asserting that the fraud uncovered was outright theft. He detailed the three distinct schemes: child nutrition, housing for the homeless, and autism services, each with its own troubling narrative.
The first scheme revolved around a nonprofit called Feeding Our Future, which claimed to provide meals for hungry children within the Somali community. According to Kennedy, the nonprofit rapidly expanded its funding from modest beginnings to an astonishing $100 million annually. Unfortunately, instead of meals, the funds were allegedly diverted for personal luxuries by those involved, with no evidence of actual meal provisions for children.
The second scam involved a nonprofit claiming to address homelessness. Kennedy stated that funding requests escalated from mere millions to over $100 million each year. Yet, he contended that none of these funds assisted actual homeless individuals, suggesting they were pocketed by the program’s administrators.
The third scheme, which Kennedy described as particularly alarming, targeted autism services. Providers sought financial support for treating autistic children but were unable to provide sufficient qualifying cases. In a disturbing twist, they allegedly bribed parents with payments ranging from $400 to $1,500 to falsely certify children as autistic. This scheme quickly ballooned, leading to funding requests in the hundreds of millions.
Kennedy highlighted the role of Asha Farhan Hassan, who he identified as a key figure in these fraudulent operations. He claimed she was involved in both the child nutrition and autism service frauds, which together marked a significant portion of the taxpayer funds misappropriated.
The senator raised concerns about the environment that allowed this fraud to go unchecked. He noted state employees had tried to report irregularities, only to face blockages from political leaders. Reports indicated that when welfare officials attempted to scrutinize rising claims, they were threatened with lawsuits and charges of racism. Kennedy asserted that these threats created a chilling effect, stifling accountability.
Kennedy cited statements from Minnesota’s legislative auditor and comments from employees at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. They pointed fingers at Governor Tim Walz, stating he bore full responsibility for allowing such massive fraud to continue unabated. These employees expressed concerns that the governor’s administration retaliated against whistleblowers, undermining efforts to expose wrongdoing.
Additionally, Kennedy referred to a City Journal article that suggested some misappropriated funds might have made their way to al-Shabaab, a designated terrorist group. While acknowledging that this claim had yet to be proven, he confirmed that investigations were ongoing. This added an alarming layer to the already serious allegations.
Responding to accusations of racism, Kennedy firmly stated the issue at hand was not about race but criminal behavior. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging the facts: that it was leaders within the Somali community orchestrating these schemes and that the majority of the businesses involved were Somali-owned. Kennedy argued that ignoring these realities for the sake of political correctness would only enable further fraud and erode public trust.
In conclusion, Kennedy criticized Minnesota’s political leadership for allowing this situation to persist. He charged that fear of being labeled racist had led to a reluctance to confront the rampant fraud, which ultimately diverted crucial taxpayer resources away from vulnerable populations—those genuinely in need of assistance. The senator’s speech underscored a critical moment in an ongoing conversation about accountability and integrity within government programs.
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