Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria) issued the following statement regarding former Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Tony Lourey’s resignation.

“Republicans have repeatedly raised concerns about serious flaws in Governor Walz’s administration in regards to the management and operation of the Minnesota Department of Human Services. In less than a week, three top officials at DHS have resigned, leaving a void in a department that has already struggled with a lack of leadership. These developments offer no comfort to hardworking Minnesotans who expect efficiency and reform but have only witnessed their tax dollars go to waste as a result of embarrassing management of this department. Governor Walz and Democrats in the legislature cannot continue to ignore this reality and must acknowledge that the Department of Human Services is failing Minnesotans and that substantial reform is necessary to provide Minnesotans the government they deserve.”

Lourey’s resignation is the latest in a significant exodus of top leaders at the agency. Last week, Deputy Commissioners Chuck Johnson and Claire Wilson resigned unexpectedly without explanation from DHS. A former DHS Director, whose position was unexpectedly eliminated after 13 years in June, called for an investigation by the Walz administration citing “systemic issues with the leadership culture of the agency.