In a dramatic February 24, 2026, Minnesota legislative hearing, state officials from Gov. Tim Walz’s administration, including Deputy Commissioner Evan Rowe and Director Greg Norfleet, confirmed that applicants to the state’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave program have cited injuries from “chemical munitions” used during protests tied to Operation Metro Surge as reasons for needing paid leave.
For context, Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL) inquired whether such incidents prompted applications; officials answered in the affirmative, noting that serious injuries resulting from public harm qualify under the program, which provides up to 12 weeks of benefits funded by employee and employer premiums.
Starting off the clip, one appointment asked, “It’s one question I do have. We’ve had some federal agents in the state recently. We’ve seen video, we’ve we’ve seen video, we’ve seen We’ve seen statements and interviews, but we’ve seen how there’s been chemical munitions used on some folks that have been out exercising the First Amendment rights, and we know that those cause harm and damage.”
Building on this point, he noted, “So my question to you, and I know you may not have the answer just right now, and it may be a lag in it, but have you seen any of that in terms of applications that are coming out, those, those types of actions being the reason for folks needing to access this program?”
Answering, the other man in the clip responded, “Commissioner, thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for the question. Representative Frazier, and I’ll, I’ll maybe ask Director Norfleet, just to provide a couple, a couple of brief details, but the short answer to your question is yes, as would any circumstance that causes injury or harm to the public.”
“I think we have seen applications that have been tied to some of the violence that we saw in the Twin as a result of Operation Metro surge. I don’t, you know. I think we, as you would expect, if people have suffered serious injury, that is, it’s not, it’s, I guess it’s not unexpected,” he added.
Concluding his comments, he asserted, “It’s, it’s, certainly, you know, it’s, it’s sad. But that is, I think one benefit of having this program is that people who have been seriously injured now have the ability to receive, you know, take time to care. And I don’t know if there’s any additional details you might provide.”
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Providing context to the viral clip, one user reacted, “WOW: The Walz Administration just said rioters are using Minnesota’s Paid Family Medical Leave program to take up to 12 weeks off of work, paid for by the taxpayers, after being tear-gassed.”
Watch the dramatic footage here:
Responding, one sarcastic post read, “When is the next anti ICE riot planned, I could use a vacation. Thank you.” Another added, “Good luck guys. Minnesota is currently deep into the “looting the treasury” phase of a marxist take over.”
Featured image from embedded video