One week after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the federal government’s withholding of $259.5 million from Minnesota’s Medicaid program, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison were joined by Reverend Mariah Tollgaard, Senior Pastor at Hamline Church United Methodist in Saint Paul, Minnesota in providing testimony at a March 4, 2026, House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing.

During “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part II,” members of both parties agreed that fraud is not a victimless crime and the prosecution of fraudsters should be expedited.

Committee Majority members sought answers on the Walz administration’s actions to combat fraud and the timelines under which members of the administration became aware of fraudulent activities. They took a strong stand on whistleblower defense, accusing the Walz administration of intense and unlawful retaliation against whistleblowers.

Members of the minority spoke out against the agenda of the Oversight committee in failing to bring members of President Trump’s administration in for questioning on use of force policies deployed by the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement along with presidential pardons for multiple convicted fraudsters.

The March 4 hearing was notably contentious as reflected in reports by majority and minority parties.