DHS Whistleblower in Minnesota Raises Fraud Concerns, Accuses Leadership of Retaliation

A whistleblower from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has stepped forward with allegations of persistent fraud within the state’s system, claiming to have faced significant retaliation as a result. This comes amidst Governor Tim Walz’s assertion of being unaware of these issues, an assertion the whistleblower, Faye Bernstein, strongly disputes.

Bernstein, who has devoted two decades to her role at Minnesota’s DHS, primarily in contract management and compliance, has reportedly been on the receiving end of what she describes as a “smear campaign”. This, she claims, followed her efforts to alert the leadership to illegal contracting practices. Her attempts reportedly led to her being branded as “racist” and experiencing a reduction in her work responsibilities.

“There is just a continuous effort to stifle you, to shut you up. And it is impossible to overcome,” Bernstein remarked during an appearance on “Saturday in America.”

Federal prosecutors have estimated that up to $9 billion may have been illegally siphoned off due to fraudulent fronts posing as daycare centers, food programs, and health clinics. In the unfolding investigation, many of those implicated are from Minnesota’s Somali community.

Rather than being commended for her vigilance, Bernstein detailed in a letter, exclusively acquired by “Saturday in America”, that she faced “nearly unbearable retaliation.” This includes being barred from all DHS properties and undergoing extensive investigations that were costly to the state.

Bernstein consistently reported her concerns to internal authorities and escalated them to the Governor’s Office and other external oversight bodies, but the reaction, she alleges, was consistently unfavorable. “I was, in fact, portrayed as the bad employee,” she explained, expressing her frustration at frequently being compelled to repeat her warnings.

“It’s been sometimes just downright embarrassing to go on and on about this. To claim that leadership was not apprised, or the governor was not aware, is — I can tell you that is absolutely false,” Bernstein asserted.

Despite identifying as a Democrat and having historically voted for the party, Bernstein challenges Governor Walz’s characterization of the allegations as “make-believe,” emphasizing that the fraud is genuine. “I see this every day… and it is not make-believe. And as far as my being a Democrat, right now, we have to have a governor who is willing to tackle this, irrespective of party affiliation,” she stated.