Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) has called for an investigation into outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following bipartisan criticism over the department’s issuance of an exorbitant, no-bid contract and immigration enforcement practices in Minnesota.
Walz turned the tables on Noem Tuesday, following months of criticism from Republicans over his state’s $9 billion worth of fraud in social services and Medicaid programs.
“People in Minnesota know there are literally hundreds, if not thousands of things that were done to Minnesotans, both physically, mentally, economically, [and] somebody has to pay,” Walz told Pivot podcast hosts Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway during a sit-down discussion at Pantages Theater in Minneapolis.
Walz said that Noem “was more than happy to tell us she was in charge as she rode her horse around,” a reference to a video filmed as part of a $220 million DHS contract issued to produce advertisements advising illegal immigrants in the United States to self-deport. The commercials “prominently” featured Noem, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) noted during a Senate hearing where Noem was present last week.
“There’s a big difference between fraud and corruption. People stole from the people of Minnesota, and those people are in jail,” Walz said. “Ironically, the amount that we know with our Feeding our Future scandal is exactly what she spent on the riding the horse scandal, or whatever it was. But this goes a lot deeper, where people in government [were] directing money towards their clients.”
A small portion of the $220 million DHS contract was subcontracted to The Strategy Group Co., an Ohio-based company operated by Ben Yoho, the husband of DHS’s recently departed spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin. The company has claimed on X that it received roughly $226,000 from the company contracted by the DHS.
“She claimed that everyone knew on this [sic], but I will say this — yes, I think we need to find out,” Walz said. “There certainly needs to be investigations. And if those lead to indictments, trials, and imprisonment for the people who did these crimes, that needs to happen.”
Walz’s comments follow similar criticism and calls for investigation from Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) late last week after President Donald Trump announced he would replace Noem.
Similar to Minneapolis, Chicago saw a heavy presence of federal immigration authorities descend in late 2025 as part of the Trump administration’s effort to find and arrest criminal illegal immigrants in sanctuary cities.
NOEM’S DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ICE BOUGHT THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES THAT OFFICERS CANNOT USE
“Here’s your legacy: Corruption and chaos. Parents and children tear-gassed. Moms and nurses, U.S. citizens getting shot in the face. Now that you’re gone, don’t think you get to just walk away,” Pritzker said in a video posted on Friday. “I guarantee you, you will still be held accountable.”
Noem’s office has not responded to a request for comment on when she will step down, but Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) is slated to take over as acting secretary on March 31, unless he is confirmed by the Senate prior to then.