Judge blocks Trump childcare subsidies freeze in 5 states temporarily

A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked the Trump administration from halting subsidies for child care programs in five states, including Minnesota, due to fraud allegations.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, a Biden appointee, did not rule on the legality of the funding freeze, but said states had met the legal threshold to maintain the “status quo” on funding for at least two weeks while proceedings continue.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced it would withhold funds for programs in five Democratic states due to fraud concerns.

These programs include the Child Care and Development Fund, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and the Social Services Block Grant, all of which help families in need.

USDA IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDS ALL FEDERAL FUNDING TO MINNESOTA AMID FRAUD INVESTIGATION

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it would withhold funds for programs in five Democratic states due to fraud concerns. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, file)

“Families who rely on child care and family assistance programs deserve assurance that these resources are being used legally and for their intended purposes,” HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said in a statement Tuesday.

The states, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York, argued in court that the federal government had no legal right to end the funds and that the new policy was creating “operational chaos” in the states.

U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian during his 2022 nomination hearing. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

In total, states reported receiving more than $10 billion in federal funding for these programs.

HHS said it had “reason to believe” that these programs were illegally providing funds to people nationwide.

“TIP OF THE ICEBERG”: SENATE REPUBLICS PRESS GOV WALZ ON MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL

The chart above shows the five states and their social safety net funding for various programs that are being withheld by the Trump administration due to fraud allegations. (AP Digital Integration)

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading the trial, called the ruling “a crucial victory for families whose lives have been upended by this administration’s cruelty.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading the trial, called the ruling “a crucial victory for families whose lives have been upended by this administration’s cruelty.” (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Fox News Digital has reached out to HHS for comment.