Texas officials have submitted the state's voter registration list to the U.S. Justice Department in response to a request from the Trump administration for access to voter data from all 50 states. This data encompasses personal information on approximately 18.4 million registered voters in Texas, including dates of birth, driver's license numbers, and the last four digits of Social Security numbers.

The Justice Department has stated that this initiative is part of its mandate to enforce election laws, which require states to maintain accurate voter lists by identifying and removing ineligible voters. However, this effort has ignited significant debate regarding its legality and the potential risks to voter privacy. Election experts and officials have expressed concerns that the sharing of such sensitive information could lead to privacy violations and the wrongful removal of eligible voters from the rolls. The Democratic National Committee has characterized the data turnover as a potential overreach of government power, warning that it could infringe upon federal election laws.

The Justice Department has initiated legal action against 23 states, including Texas, for not voluntarily providing their voter rolls. While some states have resisted due to legal restrictions on sharing private voter information, Texas has complied but maintains that its agreement to share data does not compromise its responsibilities under federal law. Proposed agreements from the Justice Department include provisions for reviewing voter rolls for discrepancies and notifying states of any issues, which could lead to further scrutiny of voter eligibility. Legal experts have noted that such actions may conflict with existing laws designed to protect voters from being removed from registration lists close to elections.

In a separate development, the House Oversight Committee has convened a hearing to investigate allegations of extensive fraud within Minnesota's social services, which are funded by federal taxpayer dollars. Representative James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky and chairman of the committee, expressed concern over the scale of the fraud, suggesting it may only represent the beginning of a larger issue. The committee heard from witnesses, including Republican state Representatives and a former prosecutor representing the Democratic perspective.

Critics of the Walz administration, including Republican lawmakers, have accused it of a slow response to what federal prosecutors have labeled the largest pandemic-related fraud in the United States. The Oversight Committee has initiated an investigation into the governor's handling of the fraud cases, with Comer indicating that subpoenas may be issued if Governor Tim Walz and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison do not testify voluntarily. Allegations include misappropriation of funds from Medicaid programs, with claims that some funds may have been diverted to support al Shabaab, a designated terrorist organization.

Witnesses have highlighted systemic issues where government programs are exploited for profit rather than serving as safety nets, and concerns have been raised about the fear of retaliation faced by whistleblowers in Minnesota. While some Democratic committee members acknowledged the existence of fraud, they cautioned against punitive measures that could harm innocent individuals reliant on social services. The situation has drawn national attention, particularly regarding the demographic background of some defendants, leading to controversial remarks from political figures, including former President Donald Trump, which local officials have denounced as racially charged. Governor Walz has defended his administration's actions, asserting that efforts have been made to address the fraud and prosecute offenders, citing ongoing challenges posed by organized criminal activities exploiting state resources.