Vice President JD Vance stepped to the rostrum like a dutiful foot soldier, freshly armed with President Donald Trump’s newest marching orders and able to carry them out with out hesitation. The tone was assured, nearly rehearsed — till a single, simple query landed and his shaky reply gave means for rapid backlash.
The administration is once more testing how far it might probably go by inventing pretexts and utilizing federal {dollars} as leverage, daring state leaders and courts to determine the place oversight ends and coercion begins.
Vance led the cost Wednesday, asserting an indefinite pause on $259 million in federal Medicaid funds to Minnesota, whereas repeatedly insisting it was not one thing the administration wished to do.
The transfer got here simply at some point after he was tapped to spearhead a brand new “conflict on fraud,” and it focused a blue state that has lengthy irritated Trump. Critics shortly framed the freeze as retribution, notably after the administration’s latest immigration enforcement push in Minneapolis resulted in a humiliating retreat following the deadly taking pictures of two U.S. residents.
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Standing alongside Healthcare Companies Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz at a information convention, Vance mentioned the funds would stay frozen till the state met federally imposed circumstances.
The choice instantly raised questions on govt authority and put Democratic governors on discover as Vance labored to painting the freeze as routine enforcement somewhat than a rare flex by the White Home.
The evening earlier than, Trump elevated Vance’s profile throughout his State of the Union deal with, assigning him to the crackdown.
Trump framed the duty in sweeping phrases, promising immediate outcomes. “He’ll get it carried out,” Trump mentioned. “And if we’re capable of finding sufficient of that fraud, we are going to even have a balanced funds in a single day.”
Inside hours, Vance and Oz unveiled the opening salvo in Minnesota, a state already beneath investigation for alleged fraud tied to day care facilities. Vance mentioned the administration was appearing to implement accountability.
“Now we have determined to briefly halt sure quantities of Medicaid funding which can be going to the state of Minnesota in an effort to be sure that the state of Minnesota takes its obligation significantly to be good stewards of the American individuals’s tax cash,” he mentioned.
When an NBC Information reporter requested Vance to elucidate the authorized authority for pausing funds that Congress had already permitted, it wasn’t a trick query. It was foundational — the form of separation-of-powers fundamentals most regulation college students encounter early. Vance didn’t hedge. He mentioned he was “fairly assured” the administration may do it.
“We’re those who spend this cash. Congress appropriates it. We’re those who really be sure that this goes to the individuals it should go to,” he mentioned. “And inherent in that’s ensuring that it solely goes to the folks that Congress says that it ought to go to. We shouldn’t be sending cash to fraudsters.”
It was delivered as a simple clarification. However to many watching, it sounded much less like readability and extra like somebody skipping previous a core precept — the sort that isn’t purported to be non-obligatory.
On-line, critics accused Vance of flouting primary constitutional regulation.
“That’s 100% not true. The chief department doesn’t have management over funding. That is completely unlawful. They don’t give a sh-t, however it’s unlawful,” one publish learn.
One other mocked Vance’s credentials: “How did he get his regulation diploma? From saving up coupons from breakfast cereal packets?”
Others piled on, “Nope, that’s not appropriate JD. Hey Yale, come and get your boy, he would possibly want some remedial lessons.”
Vance tried to border himself as a reluctant enforcer.
“I’d reiterate, we don’t wish to do that,” he mentioned. “We don’t wish to be in a state of affairs the place the state of Minnesota is being so careless with federal tax {dollars} that we’ve to show the screws on them a little bit bit in order that they take this fraud significantly.”
That framing, nonetheless, solely appeared to ask harsher reactions as Oz stepped in to spell out the numbers whereas additionally asserting a “6 month nationwide moratorium blocking all new enrollments for sturdy medical gear — prosthesis, orthotics — provides throughout the board.”
Oz mentioned Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had been notified that his state wouldn’t obtain a $259 million Medicaid reimbursement this month, a determine drawn from a three-month audit in early 2025.
“We are going to give them the cash, however we’re going to carry it and solely launch it after they suggest an act on a complete corrective motion plan to resolve the issue,” Oz mentioned. “If Minnesota fails to wash up the methods, the state will rack up a billion {dollars} of deferred funds this yr.” Walz, he added, has 60 days to reply.
That clarification sharpened the sense amongst critics that the administration was utilizing cash as a cudgel.
“Blackmail in broad daylight,” one on-line response mentioned.
Others listed what they referred to as the administration’s personal excesses.
“Kristi Noem is utilizing taxpayers cash to purchase a jet with a queen measurement mattress and a bar, Kash Patel used taxpayers cash to get together in Italy with the USA males’s hockey staff, jd Vance has used taxpayers cash to go on trip as soon as a month for nearly each month he’s been Vice Pres, Trump is paying his sons in taxpayers cash by giving them authorities contracts. This administration needs to punish Minnesota as a result of they’re standing up for themselves.”
Walz responded on X later Wednesday, rejecting the premise of the crackdown altogether. “This has nothing to do with fraud,” he wrote.
“The brokers Trump allegedly despatched to analyze fraud are taking pictures protesters and arresting youngsters. His DOJ is gutting the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace and crippling their capacity to prosecute fraud. And each week Trump pardons one other fraudster.”
He accused Trump of weaponizing the federal authorities and warned, “These cuts can be devastating for veterans, households with younger youngsters, of us with disabilities, and dealing individuals throughout our state.”
Oz argued Minnesota may climate the pause utilizing its rainy-day fund. “This isn’t an issue with the individuals of Minnesota, it’s an issue with the management of Minnesota and different states who don’t take Medicaid preservation significantly,” he mentioned, urging fearful suppliers to “please name your governor.”
For Minnesotans, that reassurance rang hole.
“ILLEGAL AF. I believe Minnesota has each cause to ship an enormous ‘F**Okay YOU’ in lieu of paying federal taxes at this level,” one publish learn.
Some commenters tied the transfer to Trump’s failed immigration enforcement.
“Punishing us is a recreation to them – cuz we harm their emotions by not rolling over for ICE to f**Okay us.”
