Independent journalist and YouTuber Nick Shirley testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance on Wednesday during a hearing titled "When Public Funds Are Abused: Addressing Fraud and the Theft of Taxpayer Dollars."
The hearing primarily focused on alleged fraud in Minnesota's federally funded programs, including daycare centers, child nutrition, autism services, and other social welfare initiatives. Shirley gained prominence in late 2025 for a viral video claiming to expose widespread fraud in Minnesota's childcare system, where he filmed apparently vacant daycare facilities that had received millions in taxpayer funds. His work contributed to heightened scrutiny, a temporary freeze on certain federal childcare payments to Minnesota by the Trump administration, and ongoing federal investigations into related scandals (such as the Feeding Our Future case involving over $250 million in misused COVID-19 relief funds).
During questioning—particularly from Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA)—Shirley shifted attention to California, stating that fraud there "might be worse than the fraud in Minnesota." He highlighted:$24 billion allegedly "went missing" in spending intended to address homelessness in California, with little visible progress.
The long-delayed high-speed rail project, which has been in development for years but has produced "hardly anything to prove for that."
Broader issues like wildfires (likely referencing inadequate outcomes despite related spending or mismanagement).
Shirley's full testimony emphasized accountability for taxpayer dollars, criticizing what he described as systemic waste and fraud in government programs. Clips of his remarks, including the California comments, circulated widely on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Fox News, One America News Network, and Infowars.
At today's Judiciary Committee hearing, Nick Shirley agreed that fraud in California may be even worse than what he uncovered in Minnesota.pic.twitter.com/0SSwZv0R8g
— Rep. Kevin Kiley (@RepKiley) January 21, 2026
The hearing drew criticism from Democrats, who accused Republicans of selective outrage and relying on unverified claims from influencers like Shirley. One witness (Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette from the Project on Government Oversight) stated he trusted professional journalists (e.g., CBS reporting) over Shirley's video, citing instances where mainstream outlets and state inspectors found counter-evidence to some of Shirley's specific allegations about daycare operations.
Shirley, a 23-year-old content creator who describes himself as an independent journalist, has appeared on outlets like Fox & Friends to discuss his investigations ahead of the hearing. No formal charges or new fraud findings directly stemmed from his testimony, but it amplified calls for stronger federal oversight and prosecution of waste in public programs.