WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Emmer (MN-06) led Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (MN-07), and Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) in demanding Governor Tim Walz comply with the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) request for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) verification and enrollment data given the recent federal warrants served during Operation Cold Snap and charges served for SNAP fraud in Anoka County.
“Governor Walz is putting Minnesota’s SNAP program at risk – all to protect fraudsters over law-abiding Minnesotans,” said Congressman Emmer. “Not only has Governor Walz refused to address the fraud, but his administration has obstructed our efforts to tackle it. If the state continues down this path, children, seniors, and vulnerable individuals could lose the benefits they rely on. We are thankful to President Trump and Secretary Rollins for their commitment to tackling fraud in Minnesota and holding Walz accountable.”
On April 9, 2026, charges were filed against an Anoka County couple for public assistance fraud, after they received more than $860,000 in benefits, including SNAP benefits. The couple was not eligible and received the benefits due to false reporting and fraudulent filings.
On April 16, agents from the USDA and Homeland Security Investigations executed criminal search warrants at multiple SNAP retail locations within the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area in an operation called Operation Cold Snap. In their search, they found instances of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards being exchanged for cash at discounted rates. Additionally, during Operation Cold Snap, federal agents served another 20 retailers with notices of alleged SNAP violations. If convicted, these retailers will be removed from the SNAP program and could face other penalties.
The USDA has repeatedly requested the state’s SNAP verification and enrollment data for a variety of reasons, including fraud. Minnesota has refused to comply with this request, which is jeopardizing the state’s federal funding of this program.
Background
On May 6, 2025, the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service sent a letter to state SNAP agencies requesting application, enrollment, recipient, and transaction data. As of December 1, 2025, 28 states have complied with USDA’s request. Minnesota is not one of those 28 states.
On December 9, 2025, Congressman Emmer and the rest of Minnesota’s Republican Congressional delegation sent a letter to Governor Walz, demanding that his administration comply with the USDA’s request for SNAP recipient data.
On December 16, 2025, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins wrote a letter to Governor Walz directing Minnesota to be a part of a SNAP pilot program working to eliminate fraud and increase efficiency. Governor Walz proceeded to refuse to comply with the USDA’s directive.
You can read the most recent letter in its entirety here.
