State legislators are urging the state’s Department of Human Services to double down on fraud prevention as Gov. Tim Walz launches a new plan to crack down on fraud.

DHS leaders told a state legislative committee Wednesday that they’ve stopped payments to 115 providers who received grants from the state’s housing stabilization services program, after finding evidence of fraudulent claims. Those providers have received about $100 million from the state over the last six years, DHS leaders said.

The department moved last month to end that program, saying it was too vulnerable to fraud. It’s set to end on Oct. 20.

Legislators on a state House committee on fraud prevention heard from DHS leaders Wednesday.

“DHS is taking a zero-tolerance approach,” DHS Temporary Commissioner Shireen Gandhi

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