Minnesota has become ground zero for fraud schemes that federal officials have said could ultimately cost taxpayers as much as $9 billion.
But while billions of taxpayer dollars are estimated to have disappeared through fraud-riddled government programs, the state has managed to find $4,998.04 it says was wrongly paid to seven conservation officers — some of whom also serve in the military.
And it wants the money back.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) confirmed to Alpha News that it conducted a payroll audit examining records from 2022 through part of 2026 to determine how conservation officers calculated overtime during pay periods in which they used paid military leave.
The result of the review: $4,998.04 in overpayments spread across 20 pay periods and seven officers.
One conservation officer who spoke with Alpha News on condition of anonymity called the situation “outrageous,” saying officers are being forced to repay money they received under what he says had previously been an accepted payroll practice.
The officer served in the Minnesota National Guard while simultaneously working as a conservation officer.
“Despite being an accepted practice … the state has retroactively investigated employees,” the officer said. “It is simply outrageous that the MN DNR will recoup money it paid to employees for a practice that was previously accepted by the agency.”
It comes down to 86 hours
The dispute is complicated on paper but fairly simple in practice.
Conservation officers generally must accumulate 86 qualifying hours during a two-week pay period before additional hours qualify for overtime.
Officers who also serve in the National Guard or Reserve are entitled to paid military leave when they have military obligations.
The question is whether those military-leave hours count toward the 86-hour overtime threshold.
According to the DNR, they don’t.
Consider an officer who works 70 hours for the DNR and uses 16 hours of paid military leave to attend required National Guard drill.
The officer has been paid for 86 hours.
But for purposes of reaching the overtime threshold, the DNR says he has only accumulated 70 qualifying hours.
That means he must actually work another 16 hours for the DNR before additional hours begin qualifying for overtime.
For officers working ordinary schedules, that distinction may not mean much.
During periods when conservation officers are called upon to work extended hours, however, it can mean the difference between receiving regular pay and time-and-a-half.
The officer who contacted Alpha News said that happened to him while conservation officers were heavily deployed to the Twin Cities during Operation Metro Surge.
“Despite long days of uncertainty, my claimed overtime worked during this time was denied because I had drill in that timeframe,” he said. “Because of the drill, I was forced to claim straight time instead of overtime for the equivalent of two days or more worked.”
He also said he would not have faced the same consequence had he used sick leave instead of military leave.
DNR: Federal inquiry triggered four-year audit
The DNR said it did not initiate the review out of the blue.
The agency said an inquiry from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service regarding conservation officers’ use of paid military leave toward overtime prompted the payroll audit.
The DNR then examined payroll records covering calendar year 2022 through part of 2026.
The agency found seven officers incorrectly coded their timesheets during 20 pay periods, resulting in $4,998.04 in overpayments.
“The DNR is treating these as payroll errors and following the established process for recouping overpayments,” the agency told Alpha News.
The DNR also said that overtime rules haven’t changed recently.
“The DNR follows the terms and conditions set forth in the collective bargaining unit agreement between the Minnesota Law Enforcement Association (MLEA) and the State of Minnesota, which specifies what hours count toward the attainment of 86 hours and overtime,” the agency said.
“There haven’t been any recent changes to the collective bargaining unit agreement language.”
The U.S. Department of Labor has since informed the DNR that its case is concluded and its file is being closed, according to the agency.
Jenna Gloeb
Jenna Gloeb is an Edward R. Murrow Award-winning journalist, media producer, public speaker, and screenwriter. Most recently, she worked as a reporter and on-air host for CCX Media. Jenna is a Minnesota native and resides in the Twin Cities with her husband, son, daughter, and two dogs.
