Minnesota Medicaid fraud claims center on $9 billion figure

Political figures across various levels of government, including Senator Ted Cruz and President Donald Trump, have frequently cited a figure of $9 billion in fraud occurring within Minnesota. This figure has become a central point of debate in legislative hearings and political campaigns.

The $9 billion claim originated from a December 2025 news conference where then-First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson discussed an industrial-scale Medicaid fraud scheme. When asked about the potential amount stolen from $18 billion sent to Minnesota through 14 high-risk programs since 2018, Thompson suggested a significant amount, potentially “on the order of half or more.”

While the $9 billion figure has been widely repeated in headlines, investigative tracking shows that prosecuted cases currently total less than $500 million. The largest single case identified is the Feeding Our Future matter, involving approximately $250 million to $300 million.