Dr. Mehmet Oz, now serving as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator, publicly warned Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz that federal Medicaid funding could be cut unless the state urgently restores the integrity of its program. That kind of no-nonsense stance from a federal official is long overdue, and taxpayers should applaud someone in Washington finally putting consequences ahead of platitudes.
Oz says investigators uncovered what he called a massive fraud scheme in Minnesota that may have siphoned off more than $1 billion, with jaw-dropping spikes in programs like Housing Stabilization Services and Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention. Reports allege stolen taxpayer dollars were used for flashy cars, overseas property and even funneled to foreign extremists — charges this serious demand immediate, aggressive scrutiny rather than more hand-wringing.
The CMS administrator issued a blunt 60-day ultimatum: provide weekly anti-fraud updates to CMS, freeze enrollment of high-risk providers, verify legitimate providers or remove them, and deliver a corrective action plan — or face the prospect of federal payments being halted. This is the kind of accountability that should frighten corrupt actors and lazy officials alike; threats without teeth have never stopped systemic theft.
Minnesota’s political leadership, including Governor Walz, has been accused of being “asleep at the wheel,” choosing identity politics over basic stewardship of taxpayer dollars. Conservatives should call this out plainly: when political gamesmanship becomes an excuse for allowing fraud to flourish, it’s working families who pay the price.
This scandal is also a warning about expansive welfare programs run without rigorous oversight — generous benefits combined with bureaucratic laxity invite exploitation that harms honest Americans. Credit where it’s due: CMS under Oz has already begun shutting down the worst abuses and freezing enrollments in the most-exploited programs, showing federal oversight can stop the bleeding when state authorities fail.
Washington conservatives should press beyond headlines and demand real, enforceable remedies: congressional oversight, subpoenas where necessary, and coordination with law enforcement to recover stolen funds and prosecute responsible parties. Dr. Oz has the authority as CMS chief to tighten the screws, but only a full-throated effort from Republicans in Congress and honest state officials will deliver justice for taxpayers.
Hardworking Americans deserve public servants who protect their money, not excuses to look the other way. The 60-day clock is now ticking on Minnesota, and if the state won’t act, conservatives must ensure the federal government follows through and stops underwriting corruption. Stand with those who demand accountability and defend the rule of law — our tax dollars and national security depend on it.
