Federal fraud faces Senate showdown as Thune taps Ernst to lead reforms after Minnesota scandal

By Fox News · Fox News

EXCLUSIVE: Senate Majority Leader John Thune tapped Iowa Senator and Senate Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) caucus leader Joni Ernst to lead a package of bills targeted at tackling fraud and to ensure another Minnesota sweeping fraud scheme does not unfold again, Fox News Digital learned. "You might have heard those who fail to ‘lear’ from history are doomed to repeat it," Ernst told Fox News Digital Wednesday, referring to the Minnesota daycare infamously featured by YouTuber Nick Shirley, called the "Quality Learing Center." "What has been uncovered in Minnesota is staggering, but I am sad to say is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to fraudsters cashing in on the taxpayers’ dime." The massive fraud scandal unfolding in Minnesota has sparked reinvigorated interest in how deep such fraud runs in other states, nonprofits and groups that receive taxpayer-funded grants. MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL SPARKS PUSH TO SCRUTINIZE BILLIONS IN BIDEN-ERA ENERGY GRANTS Federal prosecutors have charged nearly 100 people, most of whom are from Minnesota's Somali community, in a sprawling fraud scanda l in the state tied to multiple social-services programs, including the COVID-era nonprofit Feeding Our Future, which authorities say falsely claimed millions in federal reimbursements and may have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Federal prosecutors estimated that the total amount of fraud across various state-administered social services programs could reach more than $9 billion. Ernst is convening a Senate DOGE meeting at 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time Wednesday to plan out the package of bills to target fraud on the national level, Fox Digital learned. Ernst established the Senate DOGE caucus in 2024 to work alongside the Trump administration's DOGE office to thwart government overspending and misuse of taxpayer funds. "Congress has a historic opportunity to restore common sense and put a stop to this once and for all," Ernst added in comment to Fox Ne…