# House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform *Principal investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives, whose majority staff issued 2026 reports on fraud in Minnesota social programs.* The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is the chief investigative panel of the [[United States House of Representatives]]. Its jurisdiction runs from the federal civil service to the relationship between the federal government and the states.[^1][^2] Its chair can subpoena without a committee vote or consultation with the ranking member, a power only two other House chairs share. Recent practice has run against unilateral subpoenas.[^1] [[James Comer]], a Kentucky Republican, was reelected chair for the 119th Congress.[^1][^3] In 2026 the committee's majority staff published two versions of *[[The Cost of Doing Nothing]]: How Tim Walz and Keith Ellison Fueled Minnesota's Fraud Explosion*. The first was a 54-page version dated March 4,[^4] and the second a 205-page final staff report dated June 8.[^5] The final report estimates roughly $300 million lost in federal child nutrition funds and "potentially $9 billion in Medicaid-related funds lost or at serious risk." It frames its account statewide against Governor [[Tim Walz]] and Attorney General [[Keith Ellison]].[^5] Separately, on January 14, 2026, the [[United States Department of Justice]] sued the State of [[Minnesota]] in federal court under [[Title VII]]. The complaint alleges that the State's statutory affirmative action mandate for its civil service discriminates by race and sex. The civil cover sheet lists Attorney General Ellison as counsel for the State.[^6][^7] The record shows the filing and the United States' allegations; it does not establish a ruling.[^6] ## Who Leadership of the committee has changed hands with control of the House. During the 116th Congress, Elijah Cummings (D-MD) died on October 17, 2019, and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) was elected permanent chair on November 20, 2019. Comer was elected permanent ranking member on June 29, 2020.[^3] For the 119th Congress, Gerry Connolly and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sought the Democratic ranking member post. The House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee chose Connolly 34 to 27, and the full caucus voted 131–84.[^1] On April 28, 2025, Connolly said he would step back from the post and not seek re-election. Stephen Lynch became acting ranking member, and Connolly died on May 21, 2025.[^1] House Resolution 538 elected his successor as ranking member, listed as Garcia.[^8] Committee rule 14 lets the chair appoint panels or task forces.[^9] As chair, Comer dissolved the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic at the close of the 118th Congress. He dissolved the subcommittees on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and on Environment during that Congress.[^10] The Minnesota reports are products of the committee's majority staff.[^5] The committee announced the final report in a press release.[^11] It also published a release on Chair Comer's opening of a committee hearing on Minnesota fraud with Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison.[^12] ## What House rules assign the committee a wide portfolio. It covers the federal civil service, including the pay, classification and retirement of federal officers and employees, and the municipal affairs of the District of Columbia outside appropriations. It also covers paperwork reduction, government management and accounting, holidays and celebrations, federal procurement, the national archives, population and the Census, the postal service, public information and records, federal relations with states and municipalities, and executive-branch reorganizations.[^2] ### The staff report The final report's June 8, 2026, date and title are confirmed on its title page. One project dossier note citing the same file gives the date as June 5, 2026.[^5][^13] According to the project's review of the final report, it does not name Hennepin County, [[Minneapolis]], or the [[Hennepin County Attorney's Office]].[^14] ### Related federal action against the State The complaint in *United States v. State of Minnesota*, No. 0:26-cv-00273 (D. Minn.), rests on Minnesota's own texts. It quotes [[Minn. Stat. § 43A.19]], subd. 1(a), which requires "a statewide affirmative action program" to "eliminate the effects of past and present discrimination, intended or unintended, on the basis of protected group status." It also quotes Minn. R. 3905.0100, which requires "consideration of affirmative action goals on all staffing and personnel decisions."[^15] The complaint cites [[Minn. Stat. § 43A.191]], subd. 3(c), and [[Minnesota Management and Budget]] guidance for the rule that a hiring manager must justify a non-affirmative-action hire where a protected group is underutilized in a job category.[^16] Exhibit B to the complaint is the [[Minnesota Department of Human Services]] *Hiring Justification* policy, No. 4100.250. The policy took effect August 12, 2025, and was signed on June 23, 2025, by Andrew Petroski, director of the department's Equal Opportunity and Access Division. Its stated purpose is "to ensure DHS meets affirmative action responsibilities to comply with state statutes and must increase the diversity of its workforce to reflect and effectively serve its client base."[^17] Its operative text provides: "Hiring supervisors must provide a hiring justification when seeking to hire a non-underrepresented candidate when hiring for a vacancy in a job category with underrepresentation." The policy bars an offer to such a candidate until the division approves. It requires interviews for at least three underrepresented candidates when the pool holds three or more. It also states that employees "may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination, for failure to comply with policies." The policy superseded DHS policy 4100.005, effective May 6, 2014.[^17] The complaint alleges that Minnesota has described these plans as statutorily required, prospective, analysis-driven, and designed to remedy manifest underutilization. It responds that "Minnesota identifies no prior or present discrimination to justify its race- and sex-conscious employment policies."[^18] Its two counts allege a pattern or practice in violation of Sections 703(a)(1) and 703(a)(2) of Title VII, on the premise that "staffing is a zero-sum game." It seeks a declaratory judgment, a permanent injunction, and equitable relief for affected employees and applicants.[^19] The Department's announcement, press release No. 26-21, is titled *United States Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota's 'Affirmative Action' Regime*.[^20] The release states that Attorney General Pamela Bondi certified the case as a matter of general public importance, which entitles the United States to a three-judge district court and direct appeal to the Supreme Court. The complaint invokes that right under 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-6(b).[^20][^21] In the release, U.S. Attorney Daniel N. Rosen said state officials had let criminals "walk off with over a billion taxpayer dollars."[^20] The release was updated January 20, 2026, and the case is pending.[^20] ## When The committee traces to 1927, when 11 separate Committees on Expenditures were merged into the Committee on Expenditures in the Executive Departments. It took the name Committee on Government Operations in 1952.[^22] Republicans won the House in the 1994 elections, and the subsequent reorganization cut its subcommittees from 14 to seven, consolidated the work of three full committees, and halved its staff. In 2007 a Democratic majority folded the seven subcommittees into five.[^22] The committee's name has followed House majorities. It became the Committee on Government Reform in the 106th Congress and absorbed the former Post Office and Civil Service and District of Columbia committees. The 110th Congress renamed it the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on January 4, 2007. It became the Committee on Oversight and Reform in the 116th Congress and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability under the 118th Congress's Republican majority. The 119th Congress restored Oversight and Government Reform after the 2024 elections gave Republicans a government trifecta.[^22] - January 14, 2026: United States files its Title VII complaint against Minnesota; DOJ issues release No. 26-21.[^6][^20] - January 20, 2026: DOJ release updated.[^20] - March 4, 2026: 54-page version of the staff report.[^4] - June 8, 2026: 205-page final staff report.[^5] The federal instruments behind the complaint have their own dates. Title VII was enacted as part of the [[Civil Rights Act of 1964]], Pub. L. 88-352, on July 2, 1964.[^23] The [[Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972]], Pub. L. 92-261 of March 24, 1972, inserted "governments, governmental agencies, political subdivisions" into Title VII's definition of a person. The same Act required federal agencies to maintain "an affirmative program of equal employment opportunity" for their own workforces.[^24] [[Executive Order 11246]] of September 24, 1965, requires federal contractors to "take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and that employees are treated during employment, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex or national origin." It was amended by [[Executive Order 11375]] of October 13, 1967, and Executive Order 12086 of October 5, 1978.[^25] The complaint also cites Executive Order 12068 (43 Fed. Reg. 28971, June 30, 1978), which transferred certain Section 707 functions to the Attorney General.[^26] ## How The 1952 renaming came with a stated mission: to oversee "the operations of Government activities at all levels with a view to determining their economy and efficiency."[^22] The committee's subpoena record has varied with its majority. From 2000 to 2006, under Republican leadership, it issued few or no subpoenas on matters including the September 11 attacks, the leak identifying CIA officer Valerie Plame, abuses at Abu Ghraib, and the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. After the Downing Street memo was released, the Democratic minority was refused a hearing room.[^27] Under chair Davis, from 2003 to 2007, the committee investigated anabolic steroid use in Major League Baseball. It also subpoenaed Terry Schiavo to "appear" during the dispute over her feeding tube.[^27] Page 18 of the final staff report sets out a dated sequence. On April 24, 2020, an MDE Business Operations Supervisor told [[Feeding Our Future]] that eight new sites would not be approved. On April 28, 2020, the organization served "an administrative complaint, draft lawsuit and litigation hold" containing "conspicuous allegations about discrimination against minorities."[^28] "Within 24 hours after receiving the draft lawsuit, on April 29, 2020," the report states, MDE approved "all eight of FOF's" sites, plus ten more.[^28] The report records the sequence; the record does not establish the reasons for the approvals. ## How much - Final staff report: roughly $300 million in federal child nutrition funds lost, and "potentially $9 billion in Medicaid-related funds lost or at serious risk."[^5] - DOJ release of January 14, 2026: U.S. Attorney Rosen's figure of "over a billion taxpayer dollars."[^20] - Post-1994 reorganization: committee staff cut by 50 percent.[^22] ## Notes [^1]: Wikipedia, *House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform* (rev. 1369974350, retrieved Oct. 26, 2026), lead — role, subpoena authority, 119th Congress chair and ranking-member succession. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Committee_on_Oversight_and_Government_Reform [^2]: Wikipedia, *House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform* (rev. 1369974350), "Jurisdiction" — areas assigned under House rules. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Committee_on_Oversight_and_Government_Reform [^3]: Wikipedia, *House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform* (rev. 1369974350), "Historical membership rosters" — 116th Congress membership changes, including Comer (R-KY) as ranking member, June 29, 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Committee_on_Oversight_and_Government_Reform [^4]: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, *The Cost of Doing Nothing: How Tim Walz and Keith Ellison Fueled Minnesota's Fraud Explosion* (Mar. 4, 2026), 54 pp. — earlier version. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/The-Cost-of-Doing-Nothing_How-Tim-Walz-and-Keith-Ellison-Fueled-Minnesotas-Fraud-Explosion_3.4.26_FINAL.pdf [^5]: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Majority Staff, *The Cost of Doing Nothing: How Tim Walz and Keith Ellison Fueled Minnesota's Fraud Explosion* (June 8, 2026), 205 pp. — date and title per title page; $300 million and $9 billion estimates; statewide framing. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MN-Fraud-Final-Staff-Report.pdf [^6]: U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, *United States v. State of Minnesota*, Complaint, No. 0:26-cv-00273, Doc. 1 (filed Jan. 14, 2026) — Title VII claims; three-judge court requested. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^7]: U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, *United States v. State of Minnesota*, Civil Cover Sheet, Doc. 1-3 (Jan. 14, 2026) — counsel for the State: Keith Ellison, Attorney General; Nick Pladson, Assistant Attorney General. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^8]: Wikipedia, *House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform* (rev. 1369974350), "Members, 119th Congress" — electing resolutions, including H.Res. 538 (Ranking Garcia). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Committee_on_Oversight_and_Government_Reform [^9]: Wikipedia, *House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform* (rev. 1369974350), "Subcommittees" — committee rule 14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Committee_on_Oversight_and_Government_Reform [^10]: Wikipedia, *House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform* (rev. 1369974350), "Former subcommittees" — dissolutions by Comer in the 118th Congress. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Committee_on_Oversight_and_Government_Reform [^11]: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, *press release on the Minnesota staff report* (2026) — committee announcement of the report. https://oversight.house.gov/release/oversight-committee-releases-bombshell-report-exposing-rampant-fraud-plaguing-minnesotas-taxpayer-funded-social-programs/ [^12]: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, *release on Chair Comer's opening of the hearing on Minnesota fraud with Governor Walz and Attorney General Ellison* (2026) — hearing release. https://oversight.house.gov/release/comer-opens-hearing-on-minnesota-fraud-with-governor-walz-and-attorney-general-ellison/ [^13]: How Minnesota Got Here project, dossier note n. 9, *Four Months Underground* (Sept. 2, 2026) — cites the same report with the date June 5, 2026. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MN-Fraud-Final-Staff-Report.pdf [^14]: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Majority Staff, *The Cost of Doing Nothing* (June 8, 2026), as reviewed in project dossier note n. 65 — no reference by name to Hennepin County, Minneapolis, or the Hennepin County Attorney's Office. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MN-Fraud-Final-Staff-Report.pdf [^15]: U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, *United States v. State of Minnesota*, Complaint, No. 0:26-cv-00273 (Jan. 14, 2026), ¶¶ 12, 20 — quoting Minn. Stat. § 43A.19, subd. 1(a), and Minn. R. 3905.0100. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^16]: U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, *United States v. State of Minnesota*, Complaint (Jan. 14, 2026), ¶¶ 21, 28, 33 — Minn. Stat. § 43A.191, subd. 3(c); MMB pre-hire justification. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^17]: Minnesota Department of Human Services, Equal Opportunity and Access Division, *Hiring Justification*, Policy No. 4100.250 (effective Aug. 12, 2025), filed as Doc. 1-2 (Ex. B) — purpose, policy, procedures, supersession, signature. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^18]: U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, *United States v. State of Minnesota*, Complaint (Jan. 14, 2026), ¶¶ 53–54 — the State's stated description of its plans and the complaint's allegation. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^19]: U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, *United States v. State of Minnesota*, Complaint (Jan. 14, 2026), ¶¶ 56–72 and Prayer for Relief — Counts 1 and 2; relief sought. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^20]: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs, *United States Department of Justice Files Lawsuit Against Minnesota's 'Affirmative Action' Regime*, Press Release No. 26-21 (Jan. 14, 2026; updated Jan. 20, 2026) — certification; statements of Bondi, Dhillon and Rosen. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/united-states-department-justice-files-lawsuit-against-minnesotas-affirmative-action-regime [^21]: U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, *United States v. State of Minnesota*, Complaint (Jan. 14, 2026), ¶ 17 — invoking 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-6(b) for a three-judge court. https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^22]: Wikipedia, *House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform* (rev. 1369974350), "History" — 1927 origin, 1952 renaming and stated mission, reorganizations, name changes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Committee_on_Oversight_and_Government_Reform [^23]: U.S. Congress, *Civil Rights Act of 1964*, Pub. L. 88-352, 78 Stat. 241 (July 2, 1964) — enactment. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-78/pdf/STATUTE-78-Pg241.pdf [^24]: U.S. Congress, *Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972*, Pub. L. 92-261, 86 Stat. 103 (Mar. 24, 1972), §§ 2, 11 — governments added to Title VII's definition of person; federal affirmative program (§ 717). https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-86/pdf/STATUTE-86-Pg103.pdf [^25]: Office of the Federal Register, *Executive Order 11246—Equal employment opportunity* (Sept. 24, 1965), § 202, as amended by E.O. 11375 (Oct. 13, 1967) and E.O. 12086 (Oct. 5, 1978) — contractor affirmative action clause. https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/11246.html [^26]: U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, *United States v. State of Minnesota*, Complaint (Jan. 14, 2026), ¶ 14 — citing Exec. Order No. 12068, 43 Fed. Reg. 28971 (June 30, 1978). https://www.justice.gov/crt/media/1423361/dl [^27]: Wikipedia, *House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform* (rev. 1369974350), "Prominent hearings and investigations" — 2000–2006 subpoena record; Davis-era investigations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_Committee_on_Oversight_and_Government_Reform [^28]: House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Majority Staff, *The Cost of Doing Nothing* (June 8, 2026), p. 18 — Feeding Our Future site denial, draft lawsuit, and approvals, April 24–29, 2020. https://oversight.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/MN-Fraud-Final-Staff-Report.pdf