Governor Walz’s shock resignation confirms his Administration is Complicit on Handling an Exploding Public Assistance Fraud Scandal that is Hurting Neurodivergent Minnesotans.
OCONOMOWOC, WISC. – Governor Tim Walz (D-Minnesota) announced on the morning of January 5, 2026, that he will end his bid for a third term as Governor of Minnesota. This announcement came days after ABC News reported of an online social media influencer exposing empty day care centers in the Minneapolis area engaging in substantial fraud. The U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Justice dispatched teams of staff to the North Star State after the announcement. Americans for Autism Advocacy issues the following comment:
“Governor Walz’s shock resignation confirms that his administration grossly failed neurodivergent Minnesotans and their families. The lasting effects of the Feeding our Future scandal led to neurodivergent Minnesotans at risk of losing their care. The Walz Administration’s failure to curb this endemic fraud shows that his Department of Human Services is complicit. Americans for Autism Advocacy applauds the efforts by Madam Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and FBI Director Kash Patel to surge enforcement and investigation efforts in the North Star State. Any individual who is responsible for this fraud should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
Minnesota and Autism by the Numbers
- 1 in 28 (3.6%) children aged eight years old in Minnesota have the prevalence of Autism. Source: Minnesota Autism Resource Portal
- The same study found that the 1:28 (3.4%) prevalence is higher than 1 in 31 nationally.
- Males in Minnesota are three times more likely to be diagnosed for Autism than females. Source: Minnesota Autism Resource Portal
- 37 percent of children in Minnesota have an intellectual disability. Source: Minnesota Autism Resource Portal
Minnesota’s Autism Fraud Timeline
· December 12, 2024 – KARE-TV 11 in Minneapolis reported of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raiding two Autism care centers in Minneapolis and St. Cloud. This was the first known connection of Autism fraud tied to the sprawling Feeding our Future scandal. The Feeding our Future investigation netted a total of 78 indictments that eventually resulted in 50 people pleading guilty. Source: KARE 11
· July 15, 2025 – KSTP -TV 5 in Minneapolis-St. Paul reported that one out of every five Autism care centers in Minnesota were under a federal or state investigation. The KSTP report highlighted the surge in the number of Autism care centers in Minnesota Source: KSTP-TV 5
· September 24, 2025 – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota indicted Asha Farhan Hassan with wire fraud tied to an Autism clinic scheme. The indictment of Ms. Hassan was the first known indictment tied to allegations of fraud tied to Autism centers. Source: U.S. Department of Justice
· September 25, 2025 – KSTP-TV 5 issued a follow up report to their original story issued on July 15, 2025. The follow up report found that federal investigators alleged in the Hassan indictment that families received kickbacks from the Autism care centers. The kickbacks were in exchange for enrolling their children for services. Source: KSTP TV-5
· December 18, 2025 – Asha Farhan Hassan pled guilty in the District of Minnesota federal court on charges of wire fraud tied to the Autism clinic scheme. Ms. Hassan is yet to be sentenced by a federal judge. Source: District of Minnesota, U.S. Attorney’s Office
