The Trump administration announced Friday it is withholding roughly $130 million in federal funds for Minnesota’s food stamp program, effective immediately.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, provides more than 440,000 Minnesotans with a monthly stipend to help feed their families.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins posted a letter to social media announcing the funding freeze, stating in the caption that the Trump administration had uncovered “massive fraud” including “billions siphoned off by fraudsters.”
The Jan. 9 letter, addressed to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, said the pause in funding is because of their “failed leadership and abysmal financial management oversight.” She cites the lawsuit against Feeding Our Future, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that was found liable for diverting $300 million in COVID-19 relief funds meant to provide meals to school children during the pandemic — among other alleged fraud schemes, including the widely reported day care scandal and recent news reports that the state reported incorrect SNAP data to the federal government.
“While the full extent of fraud in Minnesota is not yet known, it is clear that, under your leadership — or lack thereof — fraudsters can take advantage of federal funds and the American taxpayer with impunity,” Rollins wrote.
The letter states Walz and Frey must provide “payment justifications” to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for “all federal dollar expenditures” since Jan. 20, 2025. In addition to SNAP, the USDA provides funding for the National School Lunch Program and food assistance for pregnant women and infants, as well as programs to support farmers and rural development projects.
While similar funding freezes have swiftly been halted in the courts, no lawsuit had been publicly announced by press time. Minnesota’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families did not respond to questions about a potential lawsuit or other actions to mitigate the freeze.
The department, which administers the state’s food stamp program, posted instructions on its webpage to provide residents with updates about the freeze.
“We are working with our local partners to analyze the impacts of this latest federal action, including potential impacts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),” states the website, last updated Jan. 10. “Your Department of Children, Youth, and Families remains committed to ensuring that all Minnesotans can get the food they need. We will continue advocating for the resources families depend on every day.”
The website directs Minnesotans in need to a directory of local food banks they can access if their SNAP dollars run out. The site, though, still encourages families to continue applying for SNAP benefits and indicates that expedited approval can get them access to benefits within seven days.
This is the latest in a series of challenges to Minnesota’s safety net programs in recent months, both widespread and targeted. SNAP recipients’ benefits were in limbo for weeks during last year’s historic 43-day government shutdown.
Last week, the Trump administration announced it was withholding $10 billion in social services funding to Minnesota and four other Democratic-led states. A judge blocked that move on Friday.
