Trump administration halts more than $10bn for childcare and family assistance | US news
Donald Trump’s administration is freezing more than $10 billion in federal funds for child care and family assistance in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said, citing what it calls concerns about fraud and abuse.
“For too long, Democratic-led states and governors have been complicit in allowing massive amounts of fraud to occur on their watch,” Andrew Nixon, an HHS spokesperson, said in a statement.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding to organizations and states on a number of issues — from alleged fraud in Democratic-governed state programs to diversity initiatives and pro-Palestinian university protests against U.S. ally Israel’s assault on Gaza.
On Tuesday, HHS said it informed the five states, all led by Democratic governors, that its freeze applied to the “Child Care and Development Fund” worth $2.4 billion, the “Temporary Assistance to Needy Families” worth $7.35 billion, and the “Human Services Block Grant” worth $869 million.
In a statement, the department said states’ access to these funds would be restricted pending further review. The administration gave no details of either the fraud allegations or the expanded fund withholding plan, which was first reported by the New York Post.
Democrats condemned the freeze. “Our states should not be political pawns in the fight that Donald Trump seems to be waging with blue state governors,” said New York Governor Kathy Hochul, adding that the measure was “vindictive” and “cruel.”
Trump himself did not provide details, but he proclaimed on social media Tuesday: “The California fraud investigation has begun.”
As a result, HHS officials said no state would receive child care funds without providing more verification. Several states told The Associated Press they had not received any guidance on the decision.
Tara Gallegos, a spokeswoman for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, said in an email that “Donald Trump is a deranged and habitual liar whose relationship with reality ended years ago” and defended California’s record in rooting out fraud in government programs.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrat of New York, said Trump’s decision to stop funding was about scoring political points, not stopping fraud.
In recent weeks, the Trump administration has pointed the finger at Minnesota, alleging that immigrants are committing widespread fraud in the welfare system and social service programs.
Trump administration officials have frequently and violently attacked the state’s Somali community, the largest in the nation, as well as Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate, and Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Somali American who represents a Minneapolis-based district in Congress.
Federal funding for child care centers has been suspended in Minnesota since late last month amid investigations into a series of alleged frauds at day care centers run by people with family roots in Somalia.
Rights advocates say the Trump administration is using fraud investigations as a pretext to more broadly target immigrants and political opponents.
