Nancy Mace slams Tim Walz over $343M autism spending, says ‘Thank God you’re not vice president’

WASHINGTON, DC: On Wednesday, March 4, Rep. Nancy Mace confronted Minnesota Governor Tim Walz during a heated House Oversight Committee hearing titled “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part II.”

The hearing focused on alleged fraud and misuse of federal funds in Minnesota. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison also testified before the committee regarding the matter. Much of the scrutiny, however, centered on Walz as Mace questioned his knowledge of autism-related spending under his administration.

Nancy Mace grills Tim Walz over $343M autism spending surge

During the hearing, Mace pressed Walz with direct questions about Minnesota’s childcare and autism program spending. She highlighted that autism spending in the state rose from approximately $1 million in 2017 to $343 million in 2024.

Mace described the increase as a 34,200% jump — or 343 times the original amount — and argued it pointed to serious oversight concerns. She repeatedly asked Walz to provide basic figures about annual spending and the number of children in Minnesota.

“Do you know the number of children in Minnesota?” Mace asked. Walz replied that Minnesota ranked among the top states for children but did not offer a specific number.

When asked whether he had prepared for the hearing, Walz said he had, but acknowledged he did not have detailed figures in front of him.

‘Are you Governor or not?’: Tensions rise during hearing 

The exchange escalated when Mace directly asked, “Are you Governor of Minnesota, or not?” She argued that as the state’s chief executive, he should be able to answer straightforward demographic and budget questions.

To illustrate her point, Mace cited population data from her home state of South Carolina, noting it has 5.5 million residents and approximately 1.1 million children under 18. She then remarked, “Thank God you’re not Vice President of the United States.” 

Mace also referenced a CDC estimate that roughly 1 in 36 children are on the autism spectrum. Based on that rate, she suggested Minnesota would have around 33,000 autistic children.

Walz declined to engage in the math, responding, “Again, I’m not here to be your prop. Go ahead and tell us.”

He defended his administration’s record, stating, “They rank near the top in every category. My children are fed. My children are housed. My children have healthcare. My children have the best schools.”

Mace concluded her questioning by asking whether he cared about autistic children receiving the services they need in Minnesota, arguing that his inability to answer basic questions raised concerns about accountability and oversight.