Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar is once again at odds with reality—or at least with federal investigators.
During a Sunday appearance on CBS News’ Face the Nation, Omar claimed there was “no justification” for the Trump administration’s response to massive welfare fraud uncovered in Minnesota, brushing off federal enforcement actions as nothing more than a public relations stunt. That argument came as CBS anchor Margaret Brennan pressed her on the growing scandal, which federal officials estimate could involve more than $9 billion in suspected Medicaid fraud.
According to federal estimates released in December, multiple agencies are now investigating Minnesota’s welfare programs, prompting the Trump administration to pause payments to the state pending audits. The vast majority of individuals charged so far in connection with the scandal have been of Somali descent—a fact Omar has repeatedly emphasized, while critics focus instead on the scale of the alleged fraud itself.
Omar accused federal authorities of creating fear and chaos, telling Brennan that enforcement actions were meant to intimidate people rather than enforce the law. She argued that the 87 individuals already investigated or adjudicated were handled under the Biden administration and claimed there was “no justification” for current searches or immigration enforcement actions. According to Omar, bringing in large numbers of federal personnel amounted to “terror” inflicted on her city. Strong words—for law enforcement doing its job.
But federal officials paint a different picture. The Department of Homeland Security announced Thursday that ICE operations in the Minneapolis area resulted in arrests of illegal immigrants with serious criminal histories, including sex offenders, individuals convicted on drug charges, and those convicted of assault. Apparently, removing dangerous criminals from communities now qualifies as “confusion and chaos” in some political circles.
Omar insisted that recent searches have not produced criminal charges and claimed federal and state authorities had already brought justice to the 87 individuals previously identified. Brennan pushed back, noting that the administration has also announced cuts to food stamp funding for Minnesota due to embezzlement concerns. Omar responded by claiming the move is unconstitutional and under litigation.
She continued to argue that there was no reason for the administration to halt funding or use what she described as aggressive rhetoric, insisting the actions were driven solely by PR considerations and were harming her constituents and the state. Accountability, apparently, is optional—at least when it’s politically inconvenient.
Adding to the controversy, independent journalist Nick Shirley released a 42-minute video documenting visits to multiple daycare centers in the Minneapolis area, one of which reportedly misspelled the word “Learning” on a banner. The footage sparked widespread attention online, though Omar dismissed Shirley’s reporting, claiming he visited the facilities when they were not open. Case closed—nothing to see here.
While Democrats continue to downplay the issue, the Trump administration has made its position clear: taxpayer dollars deserve protection, fraud deserves scrutiny, and public assistance programs must serve those truly in need. Enforcing the law may not play well with certain politicians, but for Americans who expect accountability, it’s a welcome return to common sense—and a reminder that integrity in government still matters.
