Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said federal authorities have no plans to withdraw operations from Minnesota, describing conditions on the ground as violent and unlawful while confirming discussions with the President about the possible use of the Insurrection Act.

Noem made the remarks during an exchange with a reporter as questions mounted over federal enforcement activity in Minnesota and the state’s response to it.

“Do you have any plans to pull out of Minnesota?” the reporter asked.

“No plans to pull out of Minnesota,” Noem responded.

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The reporter then pressed Noem on how she characterized the situation unfolding in the state and whether it rose to the level of an insurrection.

“How would you describe what you were seeing on the ground there? Would you describe it as an insurrection? And do you believe the President should invoke the Insurrection Act?” the reporter asked.

Noem said the conditions federal officials are confronting involve widespread violence and repeated violations of the law.

“I describe it as violent and a violation of the law in many places,” Noem said.

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She confirmed that the matter has been discussed at the highest levels of the federal government.

“I discussed with the President this morning, several things that we are dealing with under the Department and different operations,” Noem said.

“We did discuss the Insurrection Act. He certainly has the constitutional authority to utilize that.”

Noem said her preference is for state leadership to cooperate with federal authorities rather than escalate tensions.

“My hope is that this leadership team in Minnesota will start to work with us to get criminals off the streets,” she said.

According to Noem, the federal presence in Minnesota is tied to a sweeping investigation into what she described as the largest fraud scheme in American history, involving the misuse of public funds intended for vulnerable populations.

“Remember, we are there in surged operations because of the largest fraud scheme in American history,” Noem said.

She said the investigation centers on taxpayer funds meant to provide essential services, including mental health care and support for individuals with developmental disabilities.

“We had people stealing from taxpayers, stealing funds away from the most vulnerable individuals in this country, people who needed mental health services, developmental services, autism daycare,” Noem said.

Noem alleged that instead of being used for their intended purposes, the funds were diverted for personal enrichment.

“Instead, individuals came in much from the Somalian community and stole dollars from those people who needed it, and put it in their own pockets and enriched themselves,” she said.

Noem said the alleged fraud occurred while Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was in office and suggested he may bear responsibility beyond simple oversight failures.

“Did it right under Governor Walz's nose,” Noem said, adding, “and we believe that he didn't just know about it, that he may be complicit in it as well.”

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