As questions mount over potential Minnesota-style fraud vulnerabilities in Washington’s taxpayer-funded programs, Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) is calling for federal agencies to take a hard look at whether Washington’s guardrails are strong enough, or whether the state is headed toward the kind of industrial-scale abuse investigators have uncovered elsewhere.
Baumgartner recently sent letters to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins asking for a program-integrity review of major federally funded, state-administered benefit programs in Washington. In a statement released with the letters, Baumgartner said Washington taxpayers deserve proof that their dollars are paying for “real meals and real care,” not being siphoned off by scammers, and argued that Minnesota should serve as a warning for every state.
Rep. Michael Baumgartner asks Trump admin to review Washington welfare programs as child care fraud allegations grow
“I’m disappointed that our governor and attorney general seem more focused on politics than on doing their jobs.” pic.twitter.com/KUpuPO74om
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) January 12, 2026
“This Shouldn’t Be a Republican or Democrat Issue”
In an interview with Ari Hoffman on Talk Radio 570 KVI, Baumgartner said the push was driven by “a little bit of both,” what he’s seen in Minnesota and what he’s seeing at home.
He pointed to his experience as a former Washington state senator and argued that whenever state government is spending “billions of dollars,” oversight should be routine, not optional. He said the fraud cases in Minnesota underscore how federal and state dollars can be abused when controls are weak.
Baumgartner also criticized Washington leadership for what he described as a reluctance to investigate, saying the issue should unite officials around safeguarding taxpayer funds rather than becoming a partisan fight.
"You look at some of the shocking stories coming out of Minnesota…This really should not be a Republican or a Democrat issue. It really should be an issue that we're concerned about the waste of our tax dollars, and needs to get looked into." -Rep Michael Baumgartner (R-WA) pic.twitter.com/H1Bgwz9pZk
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) January 12, 2026
Why HHS and USDA?
Hoffman asked Baumgartner why he targeted those two federal departments in particular. Baumgartner answered that the structure of social welfare funding, federal dollars administered through state systems, makes HHS and USDA central to integrity enforcement, especially in a country approaching $39 trillion in debt. He said ensuring “checks” are in place may also require federal law enforcement involvement if fraud is found.
In the press release and letter, Baumgartner said he is not alleging misconduct by Washington state, but is asking for independent validation, supported by oversight actions and data, that Washington isn’t exposed to Minnesota-style risk factors such as low barriers to entry, limited documentation, prepayment weakness (“pay and chase”), rapid spending growth, and organized recruitment or templated paperwork.
Context: Audit Findings Fuel Public Questions
Baumgartner’s call for a federal review comes amid heightened scrutiny of Washington’s child care subsidy system, administered by the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF).
KOMO News reported this week that the Washington State Auditor’s Office is finalizing an audit of a $770 million DCYF child care subsidy program covering payments to more than 7,400 child care providers statewide. The same report says DCYF provided records showing 1,372 overpayments totaling $2,092,513 from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, with many overpayments linked to missing attendance records and overbilled hours or days.
KOMO also reported that DCYF’s Office of Fraud and Accountability already cited one criminal conviction for child care fraud in FY2025, with restitution set at $20,474, and zero provider convictions. Former State Auditor Brian Sonntag told KOMO the public “deserve[s] answers” and emphasized that even when programs move quickly to help people, agencies must still demonstrate controls to safeguard public dollars.
“If There’s No Fraud, Fantastic—But Ask the Questions”
Hoffman argued that elected leaders should welcome investigations, because if the system is clean, officials could point to the results as proof. Baumgartner agreed, saying transparency should build taxpayer trust and that refusing scrutiny makes ordinary people wonder what’s being hidden.
He also suggested a step-by-step approach, seeking facts before broad accusations, while still pressing for oversight strong enough to detect wrongdoing if it exists.
State Leaders Push Back
Washington Attorney General Nick Brown told KOMO News he was not aware of any documented fraud at this point, while also expressing concern about harassment and rhetoric surrounding the allegations. KOMO also reported that Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson said she had no plans to investigate the allegations at the city level when asked whether Seattle offices or SPD would follow up.
The Bottom Line
Baumgartner’s request is an attempt to force a clear answer: Are Washington’s safeguards working? His letters ask federal agencies to identify high-risk areas, summarize oversight actions, validate whether key controls are operational in practice, and recommend near-term fixes if gaps exist.
For Washington taxpayers watching audit results, online reporting, and political finger-pointing collide, Baumgartner’s message on KVI was simple: open the books, run the review, and prove the system is protecting public money, before Washington becomes the next Minnesota.
