Were there any kickbacks to the politicians?
The Feeding Our Future scandal is one of the largest pandemic-related fraud schemes in US history, involving the theft of approximately $250 million (with some estimates reaching $300 million) intended for child nutrition programs [1][2].
Why is the money hard to recover?
The FBI and Department of Justice face significant challenges in recovering the stolen funds for three main reasons:
- Overseas transfers: A significant portion of the funds was wired to foreign countries (specifically Kenya and Turkey) to purchase real estate and businesses. These assets are outside US jurisdiction, making seizure legally complex and slow.
- Consumption of luxuries: Millions were spent on depreciating assets or consumables that cannot be liquidated for their original value, such as luxury vacations (Maldives), expensive meals, and high-end services.
- Shell companies: The money was laundered through dozens of shell companies, creating a complex web of transactions designed to hide the origin and destination of the funds.
The extent of the scam
- Total stolen: Over $250 million.
- Fake meals: Defendants claimed to have served over 125 million meals to children that were never actually served.
- Defendants: Over 70 individuals have been charged [2].
- Scope: The fraud involved a network of purported “feeding sites” across Minnesota that existed only on paper [4].
How much has been recovered?
As of early 2025, authorities have recovered approximately $75 million. This includes seized bank accounts, real estate (houses in Minnesota, apartments overseas), cars, and jewelry. This represents roughly 30% of the total stolen amount [3].
Are politicians involved?
No politicians have been criminally charged or implicated in orchestrating the scam. However, there is political fallout and peripheral connections:
- Campaign donations: Several defendants donated to the campaigns of prominent Minnesota politicians, including Rep. Ilhan Omar and Attorney General Keith Ellison. Both politicians have returned the donations or donated them to charity upon learning of the source [3].
- Oversight criticism: The Tim Walz administration and the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) have faced severe criticism for failing to stop the payments sooner despite early warning signs. MDE argued they were bound by a court order to continue payments after Feeding Our Future sued them for discrimination, a claim the judge in the case disputed [4].
References:
[1] Man ordered to pay nearly $48M restitution, sentenced to prison for role in Feeding Our Future fraud scheme – Nov 25, 2025, cbsnews.com
[2] Federal Jury Finds Feeding Our Future Mastermind and Co-Defendant Guilty in $250 Million Pandemic Fraud Scheme – Mar 19, 2025, justice.gov
[3] FULL COVERAGE: Feeding Our Future fraud scheme – Dec 5, 2025, kare11.com
[4] Dozens Charged in $250 Million COVID Fraud Scheme – Sep 21, 2022, fbi.gov
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Vanished $ $ will never or rarely returns….