“Zero tolerance for fraud, waste, and abuse”: Gov Cox explains how officials prevent fraud in Utah
Dec 30, 2025, 4:23 PM | Updated: 8:12 pm
Gov. Spencer Cox speaks as he and Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson meet with the KSL and Deseret News editorial boards in the Rampton Board Room at the state Capitol in Salt Lake City to go through his budget priorities for fiscal year 2027 on Tuesday. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Gov. Spencer Cox is now saying the childcare fraud scandal happening in Minnesota is not happening here in Utah.
Last week, Nick Shirley, a YouTuber from Utah, released a viral video alleging many day care centers in Minnesota are pocketing state and federal dollars, without serving any kids.
“They’re open seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. it says on their sign. Yet there’s absolutely nobody here. And this building right here has generated millions of dollars,” Shirley said in the video as he visited one of the day care centers that allegedly receives state funding.
Minnesota’s governor, several federal agencies and Congress are now all vowing to investigate these claims, saying they are going to put a stop to the fraud.
Gov. Cox posted on X that Utah has safeguards in place to make sure that is not happening here.
“Unlike some other states, our child care providers are regulated, eligibility is verified, benefits are limited to citizens and legal residents, payments go directly to providers, attendance is electronically tracked, and agencies conduct in-person monitoring and regular audits,” Cox wrote.
Still, he said they have initiated a full review to make sure these safeguards are working like they are intended.
The Utah State Auditor’s Office told KSL NewsRadio it is aware of the allegations in Minnesota and it is actively working to ensure there is no fraud, waste or misuse of funds like that in Utah.
Gov. Cox’s comments are in line with his GRIT Initiative: Government Reform, Innovation & Transparency. He said Utah’s “GRIT operating principles mean zero tolerance for fraud, waste, or abuse.” Earlier this month, he posted that since the launch of GRIT in May, they have saved the state more than a million dollars in cost optimization.
“State agencies have completed 17 internal projects, 2 customer service improvements, and have implemented 15 major efficiency improvements,” he stated, while suggesting that more projects and savings are on the way.
