A spokesperson for Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued a statement late Sunday after a viral video raised new questions about several childcare facilities that appear to have received public funding despite showing little evidence of activity. The video, posted by independent videographer Nick Shirley, shows multiple locations described as daycare centers across Minnesota. In several clips, the buildings appear empty, with locked doors and no visible children or staff present. One location featured a sign reading “Quality Learing Center,” a misspelling that quickly drew attention online. According to records referenced in the video, the facility was licensed to care for up to 99 children and reportedly received significant taxpayer funding.
In response to questions from Fox News, Walz’s office said the governor has taken steps in recent years to address fraud within state programs. “The governor has worked for years to crack down on fraud and asked the legislature for more authority to take aggressive action,” a spokesperson said. The office pointed to measures including hiring auditors, launching investigations into high-risk programs, shutting down the Housing Stabilization Services program, appointing a statewide program integrity director, and supporting criminal prosecutions tied to fraud cases.
Earlier in the evening, Walz posted a message on X highlighting Minnesota’s rankings in several national quality-of-life measures, including safety, jobs, and family living standards. The post drew criticism from some users, including Shirley, as the video continued to gain traction online. The footage has been viewed millions of times and sparked reactions from several public figures, including Elon Musk, JD Vance, and Tom Emmer, who questioned how public funds may have been distributed to certain facilities.
