Under the administration of Democratic Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (who is currently a U.S. Senate candidate), Minnesota has funded a nonprofit that distributes “booty bumping kits”—supplies intended for the rectal consumption of drugs, commonly referred to as “boofing.”
Beginning in 2020, the state administration awarded multiple grants to Southside Harm Reduction Services, a Minneapolis charity offering various harm reduction initiatives, which include boofing kits. The $8 million figure frequently cited in online claims does not represent the cost of the kits themselves, but rather the cumulative value of all grants awarded to the organization for its broad range of operations. (Independent tracking calculated the total promised funding through 2030 to be approximately $9.1 million.)
In the final week leading up to the 2024 U.S. presidential election, the conservative investigative outlet The Washington Free Beacon reported that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had directed state funds to a nonprofit providing drug users with “booty bumping kits,” items designed to facilitate the rectal administration of substances.
The allegations surrounding the then-vice presidential candidate gained traction across social media before eventually slowing down.
Two years later, the same publication released a follow-up story asserting that Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan—who launched a 2026 Senate campaign—had “steered millions” toward purchasing the kits.
Following this later report, social media users reiterated claims in October that state leadership had channeled roughly $8 million to Southside Harm Reduction Services, a Minneapolis nonprofit known for its harm reduction work and the alleged distribution of these kits.
Following inquiries from readers seeking clarity, an investigation into the matter confirmed that the Walz-Flanagan administration has indeed maintained a funding relationship with Southside dating back to 2020. While the October 2026 report cited a total of about $8 million in promised state funds, updated tracking through 2030 places the total committed amount closer to $9.1 million.
While Southside does distribute these specific kits, there is no evidence indicating that millions of dollars in state funds were exclusively spent on this particular paraphernalia. The actual expenditure dedicated to those specific items is estimated to be a small fraction of the overall funding.
Requests for comment sent to Flanagan’s campaign, the Minnesota state budget office, and Southside Harm Reduction Services went unanswered prior to publication.
What’s true?
In 2023, the Minnesota State Legislature approved a budget allocating $100 million toward programs supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, with Southside Harm Reduction Services explicitly mentioned in the official announcement.
The announcement noted that the charity conducts outreach for unhoused individuals struggling with substance use in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, offering services such as syringe exchanges, naloxone distribution, educational resources, rapid HIV testing, and social service referrals.
An examination of active and expired state contracts verifies that Southside has been a consistent grant recipient since 2020.
Furthermore, reviews of the nonprofit’s social media accounts and annual reports confirm the existence of the “booty bumping kit,” alongside an instructional mini-zine providing guidance on its use.
In summary, Southside does receive state financial support and does provide these kits.
Clarifying the figures
The frequently cited $8 million figure does not represent money spent entirely on boofing supplies. As noted in the original reporting, that figure reflects the cumulative total of grants awarded to the nonprofit for all of its operations.
Using state financial transparency databases, records indicate that total commitments from the Departments of Health and Human Services to Southside spanning 2020 to 2030 actually total approximately $9.3 million.
These financial agreements operate as monthly reimbursements rather than upfront lump sums. Consequently, if the organization does not utilize the full allocated amount, the state incurs no expense.
Budgetary documents indicate that Southside routinely spends less than its maximum allocations. For example, an amendment to a $620,400 grant covering a 42-month period allocated $22,200 for general “supplies” in fiscal year 2025, yet actual expenditures for supplies amounted to less than $6,000 that year.
Larger contracts offer more detailed breakdowns. The organization’s largest active grant totaling $2.5 million runs from late 2025 through mid-2029. Within its supply budget of $84,378 for fiscal year 2026, only $37,000 is designated for safer-use supplies covering injection, smoking, and related methods.
The remainder of the grant funding is absorbed by operational costs, including personnel salaries, benefits, and travel.
Given that boofing represents a less common method of consumption, that grant funds are rarely fully depleted, and that expenses are distributed across a wide array of programs, it is evident that only a minor fraction of state funding is directed toward these specific kits.
Why offer these kits in the first place?
True to its name, Southside Harm Reduction Services focuses on harm reduction strategies throughout the Twin Cities region. While unconventional, the kits align with established harm reduction principles.
According to the National Harm Reduction Coalition, harm reduction centers on minimizing the negative health impacts associated with substance use, such as the transmission of HIV or hepatitis C. These programs operate on the premise that substance use will persist, making it essential to mitigate associated risks.
The most prominent examples of this approach are syringe service programs (SSPs). Because blood-borne pathogens like HIV and hepatitis can spread via shared injection equipment, SSPs have been shown by the U.S. government to reduce infections by roughly 50% while connecting participants to healthcare resources and addiction treatment options. (Because rectal administration also utilizes syringes, such items fall within this operational framework.)
Beyond distribution services, Southside’s offerings extend to broader medical and social support, including STI testing, vaccinations, and substance use treatment referrals.