A viral investigation by independent journalist Nick Shirley has ignited outrage over alleged widespread fraud in Minnesota's Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP), with claims that taxpayer-funded daycares—many operated by Somali-owned businesses—received millions despite appearing empty and nonoperational.
In a 42-minute video posted on December 26, 2025, titled "I Investigated Minnesota’s Billion Dollar Fraud Scandal," the 23-year-old content creator and his team visited multiple licensed Minneapolis daycares.
They reported no children or active operations visible during business hours, even as public records showed facilities licensed for 99+ kids and receiving substantial funds (e.g., one center allegedly got $1.9 million in 2025 alone, with up to $4 million total).Shirley claims his one-day probe uncovered over $110 million in potential fraud, calling it "open and blatant" and accusing state officials, including Gov. Tim Walz (D), of complicity through poor oversight. The video amassed tens of millions of views on X and YouTube, amplified by shares from figures like Elon Musk and Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN), who demanded explanations from Walz.
🚨 Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet. We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable
— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) December 26, 2025
We ALL… pic.twitter.com/E3Penx2o7a
The allegations tie into broader ongoing federal and state probes into Minnesota's social services, including the high-profile "Feeding Our Future" nutrition fraud case (involving over 70 indictments) and estimates of billions lost across programs since 2018—some allegedly linked to Somali communities and even foreign transfers.
No new charges stem directly from Shirley's video, and critics note his claims rely on on-site footage and public records without full independent verification. Supporters praise it as citizen journalism exposing taxpayer waste, while others caution against unproven allegations and potential inflammatory framing.