‘These moms literally took bribes’: Fraudulent Somali autism costing taxpayers hundreds of millions

There’s little doubt any further about how the daycare fraud in the Somali immigrant community in Minnesota has hurt American taxpayers, with hundreds of millions, even billions, of dollars having gone to people who said they set up daycares, and billed the government for care provided, but actually never provided any care.

Eventually, it is thought that a number of federal agencies now investigating will come up with a way to halt that, and maybe even provide a number for the costs to Americans.

But now there’s a second fraudulent scheme being uncovered: Somali parents who sign their kids up for special programs as if they were autistic.

The evidence is in the numbers, as journalist Nick Sortor has captured a clip of CMS administrator Dr. Oz confirming that Minnesota spending on those schemes was expected to be $3 million in 2018.

Instead, in 2023, it was $400 million.

BREAKING: CMS Administrator Dr. Oz has revealed the state of Minnesota is spending over **13,000%** MORE on autism care than initially expected

Oz says parents were taking BRIBES from fraudulent autism centers to sign their kids up as autistic.

$3 million was expected to be… pic.twitter.com/pCw1f4GfLh

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) February 4, 2026

Oz said, “Everybody in the community signed their kids up as if they’re autistic. Why? Autism, they get the care, they get the support, they get the money. If every kid in the neighborhood has autism, nobody has autism.”

Actually, Minnesota Public Radio has reported that in the state’s Somali immigrant community, one child in 16 is diagnosed with autism. That’s three times the state average.

The report said the numbers come from a 2023 Centers for Disease Control autism survey, with help from two University of Minnesota researchers.

An autism expert interviewed by the network, Dr. Deeqaifrah Hussein, explained in the Somali community, “Parents are more savvy in navigating and asking for services.”

An editorial at Twitchy said, “We’ve learned all about Somali-run daycares with no children in them, but there’s massive fraud on another front: autism. Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told Newsmax that Minnesota was expected to spend $3 million on autism care. Instead, they spend $400 million.”:

Minnesota’s Somali community has been caught funneling taxpayer dollars to the terrorist group Al-Shabaab overseas by falsely diagnosing children with autism through Medicaid.

Look at the insane spike in claims:
2018: $3 million
2023: $399 million

Within this same time… pic.twitter.com/NoIWn78ud9

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) November 20, 2025