Shireen Gandhi is still in charge of the state Dept. of Human Services (DHS). Ignore the cynical games being played with job titles, the situation is unchanged.
MPR News reports,
New Human Services commissioner out on medical leave with timing of pick under scrutiny
You read that correctly: the “new” boss, “temporary” Commissioner John Connolly, is out on medical leave, so the old boss, Shireen Gandhi (now titled as Deputy Commissioner) is still the boss.
Mr. Connolly is being treated for early-stage colon cancer, we wish him a swift and full recovery.
MPR reports,
On Monday, Gov. Tim Walz appointed John Connolly as temporary commissioner. He replaced Shireen Gandhi, who was shifted back to a deputy commissioner assignment just before she was to take part in a Senate confirmation hearing.
As a result of the last-second switcheroo, the Senate hearing was cancelled. The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports,
Some Democrats had concerns about Walz’s pick for Human Services leader before she was demoted
Now they tell us. Apparently, Gandhi did not have enough votes in the Democratic-controlled state senate to be confirmed as “permanent” commissioner. So Walz demoted her to a position on the org chart that does not require senate confirmation, but left her in charge of the agency.
The cynicism on display here is breathtaking, even for politics. The Star Tribune reports,
While Gandhi is no longer up for the top job, she’ll remain in charge of the department until at least early June as Connolly takes medical leave.
“At least.” MPR reports,
“Our members have had tough questions for DHS leadership about fighting fraud and protecting the people who need services, and that will continue,” Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said in a statement Monday.
“Continue”? When? Democrats cancelled the committee hearing and there are only ten days or so left in the 2026 legislative session. The clock has run out.
Fraud wins.
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