ST. PAUL — On Monday, the non-partisan Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) released a report detailing more than a dozen findings where the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) lacked adequate internal controls, and "did not comply with legal requirements and state policy." DHS has been under years of scrutiny for repeated failures to protect Minnesotans' tax dollars, resulting collectively in hundreds of millions of dollars of wasted or improperly spent funds.
Rep. Tony Albright, R-Prior Lake, Republican Lead on the House Human Services Finance Committee, issued the following statement regarding the audit report.
"This is just the latest example of poor oversight, lack of accountability, and a disregard for tax dollars at the Department of Human Services (DHS)," Albright said. "House Republicans and even Gov. Walz have called for a forensic audit to ensure that every division within DHS is scrutinized and we can fix the systemic leadership crisis within the agency — the repeated failures by DHS to follow state law should trouble every Minnesota taxpayer, especially when this is the agency tasked with caring for Minnesota's most vulnerable citizens."
In their response to the report, DHS insisted that steps had been taken to address the fourteen issues identified by the Legislative Auditor, and touted their overall payment accuracy.
"Every time an audit comes out, DHS insists that the issues have been addressed, yet every time the OLA seems to uncover new problems. We need real reform and real accountability, not more excuses, slogans, and window dressing. I expect to hear from Commissioner Harpstead what steps specifically have been taken to hold those who failed to follow state law accountable," Albright concluded.