Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, said alleged fraud in Minnesota’s government programs for children and low-income families, including SNAP, Medicaid, and federally funded meal sites, warrants criminal accountability rather than public announcements.
“Minneapolis families played by the rules while insiders allegedly skimmed off the top like it was their personal slush fund,” said Cortes. “If you steal from programs meant for kids and the needy, you deserve prison, not press releases.”
According to a Minneapolis Review article, the reported fraud involves corruption in outsourced welfare systems where billions were allegedly stolen through fraudulent centers. The Center for a Free Economy president commented on these issues, highlighting vulnerabilities in systems like SNAP, daycare, and healthcare. Cortes emphasized the need for accountability due to the impact on local families.
The Feeding Our Future fraud scheme reportedly resulted in over $250 million being stolen from federal child nutrition programs through fake meal sites and shell companies. Additionally, Medicaid fraud related to autism daycares involved hundreds of millions diverted through improper billing and kickbacks. By late 2025, 78 suspects had been indicted with over 50 pleading guilty or being convicted at trial.
Nationally, improper payments in Medicaid exceed $100 billion annually due to eligibility errors and fraud. Similarly, SNAP faces about $11 billion yearly in improper payments. These figures underscore widespread vulnerabilities within federal welfare programs across the United States, with Minnesota’s cases serving as an example of broader systemic issues.
Cortes is a political commentator and former financial strategist born in Chicago in 1972. He graduated from Georgetown University and spent 25 years in capital markets before founding Veracruz TJM and serving as chief strategist at BGC Partners. A senior adviser for Trump’s campaigns, he founded the League of American Workers in 2022 and became a senior advisor for CatholicVote in 2025.
