In a contentious move, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has approved up to $126,000 in taxpayer-funded job training grants for JBS, a globally recognized meat processing corporation, despite the company's involvement in numerous high-profile scandals.
As reported by The New York Post, the US Department of Labor discovered in February 2023 that a cleaning company had illegally employed at least 22 minors to clean JBS's processing plant in Worthington, Minnesota. These children were exposed to hazardous conditions and worked during the graveyard shift. Following this revelation, JBS terminated its contract with the cleaning service.
In a controversial move, the Office of Higher Education, led by the current Democratic vice-presidential candidate, awarded the funds to JBS in June. The grant was intended to facilitate dual training programs for 28 employees at the Minnesota plant, according to OHE spokesman Keith Hovis. Governor Walz enthusiastically endorsed the initiative, stating, "These career growth and training opportunities allow Minnesotans to get ahead in their careers while helping businesses recruit and retain talent. Its a win-win."
However, JBS and its parent company, based in Brazil and controlled by the billionaire Batista brothers, have been embroiled in a multitude of legal and criminal controversies over the past decade. Most recently, fast-food giant McDonald's filed a lawsuit in Brooklyn Federal Court, accusing JBS and other food companies of conspiring to manipulate beef prices by artificially limiting supply.
Moreover, in February, New York state Attorney General Letitia James sued JBS for allegedly deceiving consumers with exaggerated claims about reducing its environmental pollution. JBS's parent company, J&F Investimentos SA, pleaded guilty to US foreign bribery charges in 2020 and agreed to a $128 million settlement.
Senator Marco Rubio, part of a bipartisan group of senators who voiced "deep concerns" to the Securities and Exchange Commission in January over JBS's attempt to list on the New York Stock Exchange, criticized the company's track record. "JBS has a long history of misleading investors and other corrupt business practices," Rubio said. "The company doesnt deserve a taxpayer handout, it needs a federal investigation."
Governor Walz's office has yet to respond to requests for comment. The decision to grant taxpayer funds to a company with such a controversial history raises questions about the government's commitment to ethical business practices and the responsible use of public funds.
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