Court Orders Prolonged Pandemic Fraud

Minnesota’s education agency tried to cut off a nonprofit it flagged as severely deficient, but a state judge found no legal basis to stop payments and later held the agency in contempt for delaying applications. Funding continued until FBI raids exposed alleged fraud in which only about 3% of money went to food. The case shows how program rules and court rulings can override administrative red flags during emergencies. — It highlights a structural gap where judicial constraints can keep suspect providers funded, suggesting the need for clearer statutory authority and safeguards in crisis‑spending programs.