Rep Omar has no regrets about the debt associated with the Feeding Our Future fraud

Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., said he has no regrets about supporting the MEALS Act during the COVID-19 crisis, despite the program being linked to Minnesota’s alleged $250 million “Feeding Our Future” fraud scheme.

“Do you regret pushing that bill, the FOOD Act? Do you think it led to fraud?” Fox News Digital’s Nicholas Ballasy asked Omar on Capitol Hill.

“Not at all, it helped to feed the children,” said Omar.

Omar introduced the MEALS Act on March 11, 2020, to modify the Department of Agriculture’s food and nutrition programs to allow for certain waivers in school meal program requirements, including those that have increased federal costs during pandemic-related school closures.

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Minnesota has faced scrutiny over allegations of mismanagement of state funds achieved through these diversions, including the distribution of funds for the “Feeding Our Future” program, which authorities believe is the largest fraud program in the history of the pandemic.

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The program abused the US Department of Agriculture’s decision to withdraw many of its requirements for the Federal Child Nutrition Program during the crisis, including loosening its requirement that non-school distributors participate in the program.

Fox News Digital first reported the situation fraud in July. FBI Director Kash Patel described it at the time as “one of the worst” in Minnesota history – and as of November 2025, more than 75 people have been charged in connection with the scheme, according to federal prosecutors.

The president Donald Trump he recently announced a slew of new crackdowns and to investigate fraud schemes in Minnesota, which he attacked as a “hotbed of money laundering,” and cited as the basis for his decision to end deportation protections for hundreds of Somali immigrants.

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Republican, speaks during a press conference in the governor’s lobby at the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday, May 15, 2025. (Jerry Holt/Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images)

Top Trump administration officials announced new investigations this month, including a new Treasury Department investigation into how taxpayer dollars are funneled to the al-Shabaab terrorist group, according to Secretary Scott Bessent.

Trump and other officials have come out strongly in the alleged fraud schemes, saying the criminal act is the result of mismanagement and “incompetence” from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat and former vice president.

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“It’s not surprising that the president chose to target the entire community,” Walz said of Trump’s efforts, adding, “This is what he’s doing to change the subject.”

The conspirators lied that they had given millions of food during the violence, but instead used the money for their own gain. They were also accused of fabricating invoices, submitting false attendance records and falsely distributing thousands of meals from hundreds of so-called food distribution “points” across the state.

Some of the people are part of Minnesota’s Somali diaspora, the largest in the US, although the leader of the movement is not.

“To steal to the federal government is like stealing from the American people — there is no simple truth,” FBI special agent in charge Alvin Winston told Fox News Digital in a statement.

The sun shines on the Minnesota State Capitol on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024, in St. Paul, Minnesota. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

Charging documents show that nearly 300 “food centers” in the state serve little or no food, with so-called “food vendors” and organizations set up to launder money aimed at reimbursing the cost of feeding children.

FBI officials he told Fox News that the investigation and the lawsuits and the lawsuits continue to have an impact on the state, and have already affected legislative reform in Minnesota.

They added that the investigation into the fraud is still ongoing, and more charges are expected to be laid, although they have not shared any other details.

“The egregious fraud revealed in the Feeding our Future case represents a massive betrayal of society,” Patel told Fox News Digital earlier this year.

“These people have misused hundreds of millions of government funds meant to support vulnerable children in a time of crisis, diverting those resources to luxury homes, luxury cars and lavish lifestyles while families are struggling,” he added.

President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, Monday, Dec. 8, 2025. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Trump suggested earlier this month that Omar, who fled Somalia as a child, “could be allowed to be a member of congress,” prompting strong pushback from some Democrats and the Minnesota congressional delegation.

Omar said Trump’s words were “bad.”

“His death for me is scary,” he said on social media. “I hope he gets the help he so desperately needs.”

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Ballasy later pressed Omar about another incident that dominated the headlines.

“Congresswoman, the director of ICE now says your son was not pulled over by ICE. He says there is no evidence,” Ballasy told Omar on Capitol Hill.

Head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) denied a claim from Omar that his son was pressured to obtain proof of US citizenship by facility staff after stopping at a Minnesota Target over the weekend.

Omar he told CBS’ Twin Cities affiliate that his son was humiliated in a traffic stop-type encounter with ICE agents but was eventually released without further issue after he was able to produce a US passport or passport card.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons speaks at a press conference at the John Joseph Moakley US Courthouse in Boston on June 2. (Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons denied that claim on Tuesday, telling Fox News Digital that the incident never happened.

“How do they know that?” Omar replied. “How do they know that? Are you saying you have records of all the people they pulled over? Because we asked for that information. We haven’t gotten it from them, so if ICE is confirming now that they’re collecting data and refusing to provide it to members of Congress, that’s an interesting admission.”

“ICE has no history of officers or agents detaining Congresswoman Omar’s son,” Lyons said.

“It speaks volumes that Congresswoman Omar is laying this case with overwhelming evidence.”

Lyons called Omar’s comments to the local community a “sordid attempt” to demonize law enforcement. He also said his speech contributed to the increase in threats against ICE agents, citing a 1,150% increase in assaults and an 8,000% increase in death threats.

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When asked to answer Commenting on Lyons, Omar told Ballasy, “Well, their attacks have terrorized my community, so they must stop.”