Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is in hot water for handing over taxpayer dollars to JBS, a meatpacking company caught using migrant children to clean dangerous equipment. Democrats claim it’s “career growth,” but Republicans see it as state-sponsored exploitation.
At a Glance:
- Gov. Tim Walz awarded up to $126,000 in taxpayer funds to meat processor JBS, which was caught using child labor in dangerous conditions.
- The U.S. Department of Labor found at least 31 children employed at JBS plants, cleaning hazardous equipment during overnight shifts.
- Republican critics are slamming Walz for funding what they call “literal slavery” after the scandal broke.
Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz is facing fierce backlash after it was revealed that his administration awarded up to $126,000 in taxpayer money to meatpacking giant JBS. The grant, issued in June 2023, came after a U.S. Department of Labor investigation revealed that at least 31 children had been illegally employed to clean hazardous equipment at JBS plants, including one in Worthington, Minnesota, where 22 of the minors worked overnight shifts. The children were employed by a third-party cleaning service, but the scandal has sparked outrage.
https://x.com/DcEnquirer/status/1848114995617312799
Walz defended the funding, stating that the grant was intended for job training to help JBS retain workers and improve career growth opportunities for Minnesotans. “It’s a win-win,” Walz said at the time. However, Republican critics aren’t convinced. Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna didn’t mince words, accusing Walz of supporting “literal slavery” by funneling taxpayer dollars to a company using migrant children to perform dangerous labor.
JBS has a history of scandals, including lawsuits for price-fixing and bribery. In October 2020, the company’s parent organization, J&F Investments SA, pled guilty to foreign bribery charges, resulting in a $250 million fine. The company is also facing legal action from New York Attorney General Letitia James for allegedly misleading consumers about its environmental practices.
The revelation that Walz’s administration overlooked these troubling facts has only intensified criticism. Republican lawmakers argue that Minnesota should not be using public funds to support a company with such a dark record, especially when it involves exploiting vulnerable children.
Despite the outrage, neither Walz’s campaign nor JBS responded to requests for comment, leaving many to question the ethics of the governor’s decision. The scandal continues to unfold as Republicans call for greater accountability over how taxpayer money is being used.
