U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced welfare recipients in Minnesota can no longer send millions of dollars in cash to Somalia.
The news comes as federal officials launched an investigation into TSA supervisors at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport ignoring reports of Somalians carrying at least $700 million in U.S. cash in their luggage.
Millions in cash was legally flown out of Minneapolis Airport to Somalia and other African countries.
Witnesses say TSA agents routinely flagged the money to their superiors, but the cash transfers were ignored under the previous administration.
The cash, in stacks of $1 million or more, were packed into luggage and shown to airport security officials by Somali migrants flying back to Somalia-area airports, according to reports.
The bags of cash began turning up at Minneapolis Airport after Tim Walz was elected governor of Minnesota in 2018.
“Minneapolis travelers alone had $342.37 million in their luggage in 2024 and $349.4 million in 2025, and the totals nationwide are likely to be much higher,” Just the News reported.
On Monday, Gov. Walz announced he is dropping out of the governor’s race and will not seek a historic third term in office in 2026.
READ ALSO: Tim Walz Drops Out of 2026 Governor’s Race
WOW: Former Minneapolis TSA agent whistleblows on what she saw from Somalians.
"I saw suitcases filled with millions of dollars of cash and the couriers were always Somali men traveling in pairs and they got through the checkpoint. And it just it just really absolutely blew my… pic.twitter.com/OPG5SqQRv2
— DeVory Darkins (@devorydarkins) December 31, 2025
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Thursday said his department will begin prosecuting those who stole billions in welfare and other social services scams in Minnesota.
TSA agents at Minneapolis Airport will stop people carrying millions of dollars in suitcases and the cash will be confiscated.
“Minnesota is ground zero for what may be the most egregious welfare scam in our nation’s history to date.” Bessent said on Thursday.
He said the massive fraud in Minnesota has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, including money sent to Somalia through money transfer companies rather than formal banks.
“Under Governor Tim Walz, billions of dollars intended for families in need, housing for disabled seniors, and services for children were diverted to benefit fraudsters.
“I am here this week to signal the U.S. Treasury’s unwavering commitment to recovering stolen funds, prosecuting fraudulent criminals, preventing scandals like this from ever happening again, and investigating similar schemes state by state.”
