Nancy Mace Confronts Tim Walz Over Exploding Autism Program Spending

A tense congressional hearing turned combative when Rep. Nancy Mace confronted Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over a massive surge in state spending on autism programs and allegations of widespread fraud tied to the funding.

During the Capitol Hill exchange, Mace pressed Walz with a series of basic questions about Minnesota’s spending and demographics. The governor struggled to provide answers, sparking a fiery back-and-forth that quickly went viral.

Mace began by asking Walz how much Minnesota spent on autism programs in 2017.

Walz initially said he didn’t know.

When pressed, the governor argued that he could not recall the figure because he had not yet taken office at that time.

“We’re gonna do some Minnesota math today,” Mace responded.

She then revealed the number herself roughly $1 million spent on autism programs in 2017.

The South Carolina congresswoman followed up with a second question.

“How much money was spent on autism in Minnesota in 2024?”

Once again, Walz said he did not have the number available.

“I don’t have the number in front of me,” he replied.

Mace was quick to point out the contradiction.

“Were you governor in 2024?” she asked.

Walz acknowledged that he was.

That’s when Mace delivered the statistic that stunned the room.

Minnesota spent approximately $343 million on autism programs in 2024, according to figures cited during the hearing.

The dramatic jump prompted her next question.

“What percent increase is that, from one million to 343 million?”

Walz declined to do the calculation.

“I’m not here to be your prop,” he said.

Mace fired back immediately.

“Are you governor of Minnesota or not?”

After Walz confirmed that he was, Mace broke down the math.

According to her calculation, the increase represents a staggering 34,200% spike in spending over the seven-year period.

The sharp rise has drawn attention from lawmakers who are investigating allegations that fraud and abuse have plagued several taxpayer-funded programs in Minnesota in recent years.

Some cases have been linked to large-scale schemes involving nonprofits and government contractors receiving public funds intended for social services.

Investigators say the problem may extend beyond a single program.

Minnesota has already been rocked by one of the largest pandemic-era fraud scandals in U.S. history. In that case, prosecutors alleged that a network of organizations stole more than $250 million from a federal child nutrition program designed to feed low-income children.

That scandal involved dozens of defendants and highlighted significant weaknesses in oversight of public funding programs.

During the hearing, Mace continued pressing Walz on basic demographic information about his own state.

She asked how many children live in Minnesota.

Walz again said he did not have the number available.

“Are you governor of Minnesota?” Mace asked again.

Walz did know the state’s total population roughly 5.7 million residents but he still could not provide the number of children living in the state.

For Mace, the exchange underscored what she described as a troubling lack of accountability.

“As governor, I expect you to know this information,” she said.

Then came the closing line that drew attention across social media.

“Thank God you’re not the vice president.”

The heated exchange comes as lawmakers across the country continue examining how billions of taxpayer dollars are distributed through government social programs and whether adequate safeguards exist to prevent fraud and abuse.

Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates with someone concerned about government accountability.