Dunn demands accountability, calls for DCHS investigations to be transferred to Office of the Ombuds

October 31, 2025

King County Councilmember Reagan Dunn on Friday demanded accountability from County leadership after a newly surfaced email from King County Auditor Kymber Waltmunson raised red flags over the lack of progress in investigating potential fraud and misuse of taxpayer funds within the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS).

In a letter to King County Executive Shannon Braddock, Dunn called for all investigations stemming from the previously released DCHS audit to be transferred to the independent Office of the Ombuds. The move follows an email from the King County Auditor to King County Councilmembers expressing significant concerns regarding the timely, comprehensive completion of investigations of potential improper acts and payments identified during the audit of DCHS contracts.

“I share the concerns of the King County Auditor that specific cases are not being pursued in a timely manner and join her in calling for this investigation to be managed within the Office of the King County Ombuds,” Dunn wrote in the letter. “I continue to be concerned that the stories of waste and potential fraud are not being addressed, including reports of possible whistleblower retaliation.”

In the email, which was shared with councilmembers on Friday morning, Waltmunson wrote “It is unfortunate that we are six months past alerting DCHS to significant issues and it feels like we are just beginning.” Waltmunson went on to recommend that responsibility for the investigations be moved to the Office of the Ombuds, writing that the Ombuds is “skilled, competent, experienced, and unbiased” and that “everyone involved deserves a timely, complete, and independent investigation into the issues.”

According to the Auditor’s correspondence, the investigation timeline has been riddled with delays since she first alerted DCHS of serious problems back in April. The timeline in the Auditor’s email shows:

• April 11 – Auditor met with DCHS and FBOD to alert to issues
• May 14 – Auditor, DCHS, Ombuds meet to discuss an investigation plan
• June 16 – Auditors formally refer 19 items for DCHS investigation
• July 11 – DCHS engages an investigator for ethics investigation
• August 8 – DCHS provides a deadline for 4 of the 19 of September 30
• September 16 – Met to discuss DCHS findings for 4 of 19 investigation items – Auditor determined that investigation was not complete, referred back to DCHS
• October 7 – Met to discuss draft of ethics investigation – Investigation was deemed incomplete, sent back to investigator
• November 3 – meeting to discuss results of 15 investigations items cancelled

“King County is one of the least affordable places to live in America,” Dunn said. “At a time when residents are struggling to pay for groceries and rent, it is simply unreasonable to ask taxpayers to accept a meandering ‘we’ll get to it when we get to it’ approach to investigating the waste and misuse of taxpayer dollars.”

The initial audit—requested by Dunn—found widespread financial mismanagement within DCHS, including improper payments, potential fraud, and serious gaps in oversight of more than $1.8 billion in contracts. Following the Auditor’s report, Dunn introduced legislation, which was passed unanimously by the King County Council, to overhaul oversight of taxpayer-funded grants within DCHS.