Tim Walz

Governor Tim Walz responded to Vice President J.D.

Vance's announcement that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would halt the funds to ensure the state is a good steward of taxpayer dollars.

In announcing a new package of fraud prevention measures, Walz said the state has already complied with federal investigators and that the Trump administration's actions set back efforts to fight fraud in the state.

The governor asked for cooperation.

Wall says the funding halt is part of a continued campaign of retribution from President Trump.

For NPR News, I'm Dana Ferguson in St.

Paul, Minnesota.

And if you see these ice agents in your neighborhood, take out that phone and hit record.

help us create a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans, not just to establish a record for posterity, but to bank evidence for future prosecution.

Governor Tim Walz says he is cautiously optimistic that Trump will keep his word.

The Democratic governor says Holman personally assured him that agents are leaving immediately.

Walz says the operation caused an economic crisis here similar to COVID-19.

and left the state with generational trauma.

The governor says the feds need to pay for what they broke, but for now he's urging state lawmakers to approve an aid package for small businesses.

So, Minnesota, on behalf of not just this state but the country, thank you.

That same energy now needs to be directed towards recovery.

They left us with deep damage, generational trauma.

They left us with economic ruin in some cases.

They left us with many unanswered questions.

I'm going to remain hopeful at this moment, trusting but verifying.