Nathaniel Olson, a Minnesota disability advocate, appeared before the Fraud and Prevention Oversight Committee to raise concerns about what he described as widespread fraud affecting disabled residents across the state.
Olson told committee members that as many as 600,000 disabled people in Minnesota could be harmed, and he said the situation has created fear among families who rely on state systems for care and support.
In his remarks, Olson identified himself and explained why he was addressing the committee.
“Madam Chair. I’m Nathaniel M Olsen, a disability advocate for the state of Minnesota,” Olson said at the start of his testimony.
Olson said he had listened to commissioners and representatives from the Department of Human Services but remained focused on what he described as the scale and seriousness of the problem.
He told lawmakers that his primary concern was fraud occurring across the state and its potential impact on disabled individuals.
According to Olson, families have repeatedly contacted him to describe what they say is happening to their children and loved ones.
“I’ve heard the commissioners and the Department of Human Services, but the one thing that I’m freaking worried about is this freaking fraud that is happening over our state, where there’s 600,000 disability people in the state of Minnesota that could suffer,” Olson said.
During his testimony, Olson criticized Governor Tim Walz, accusing the administration of minimizing the problem and failing to take meaningful action.
Olson said he was troubled by public statements from the governor and expressed frustration with what he described as continued delays and assurances from state agencies.
“And sadly, it’s quite interesting that we have Governor Walz speaking in front of the state and saying that this fraud is nothing but the side, but my people are done suffering,” Olson said.
“We’re done with this fraud. We’re done with the Department of Human Services coming up here and saying, Oh, we’re going to figure this out. This has been too long.”
Olson told the committee that, in his view, the administration had prior knowledge that the fraud was coming.
He said families and parents had been contacting him for some time, describing fears about what they believed was happening within the system.
“The administration knew that this fraud was coming. I talked to families, parents. Everyone had been reaching out me and saying, Oh, this is what is happening to my child. This is what is happening to my child. We’re afraid,” Olson said.
He urged lawmakers and state leaders to set aside political differences and work together to stop the fraud.
Olson said the current situation has left families fearful and uncertain about the safety of their loved ones.
“We need to put aside this differences, and we need to come together and put a stop to this fraud,” Olson said.
Olson also accused Governor Walz of shifting blame rather than addressing the issue directly.
