In a strong bipartisan vote, the Minnesota Senate today approved legislation to establish a new, independent Office of Inspector General (OIG) to investigate fraud and misuse of taxpayer money in state government and publicly funded programs. 

Created under Senate File 856, the OIG will operate independently of all state executive branch agencies to ensure integrity in the operations of state agencies and programs. It will have subpoena authority and be required to issue regular reports detailing investigations, audits, and corrective actions taken. Senator Andrew Mathews (R-Princeton) successfully offered an amendment to protect whistleblowers who report fraud from retaliation. The amendment was adopted.

“With the amount of fraud happening in our state, we need to change the culture and empower public employees to step up and help stop it,” said Sen. Andrew Mathews (R-Princeton). “Protecting whistleblowers from retaliation is a step toward greater transparency. It ensures that those who are doing the right thing aren’t punished by those trying to cover up wrongdoing.”

This effort comes amid growing concern about government accountability. In 2024, U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger stated that “Minnesota has a fraud problem” following major fraud cases, including the Feeding Our Future scandal and ongoing Medicaid fraud investigations.

“Adding whistleblower protections for public employees is a practical way to get more eyes on potential fraud,” said Sen. Mathews. “If employees can report fraud in good faith without fear of retaliation, we build a stronger anti-fraud culture, and that’s a win for the public.”

The bill also creates an Inspector General Advisory Commission, consisting of two members from each legislative caucus, to assist in recommending candidates for the role. The Inspector General will ultimately be appointed by the governor and confirmed by a three-fifths vote of the Senate. The position carries a five-year term, and the new office is expected to be up and running in 2026.

The legislation passed on a bipartisan vote of 60–7, marking a long-overdue step toward restoring public confidence and strengthening fiscal accountability.