U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration is freezing more than $10 billion in federal childcare and family assistance funds to California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said, citing what it called concerns about fraud and misuse.
The Trump administration has threatened federal funding cuts to organizations and states over a number of issues since taking office – ranging from alleged fraud in programs in states governed by Democrats to diversity initiatives and pro-Palestinian university protests against U.S. ally Israel’s assault on Gaza.
On Tuesday, HHS said it notified the five states, all with Democratic governors, that its freeze applied to the “Child Care and Development Fund” worth $2.4 billion, the “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families” worth $7.35 billion, and the “Social Services Block Grant” worth $869 million.
In a statement, the department said the states’ access to those funds would be restricted pending further review.
Democrats condemned the plan.
“Our kids should not be political pawns in a fight that Donald Trump seems to have with blue state (Democratic states) governors,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said, adding the step was “vindictive” and “cruel.” Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also called the step “wrong and cruel.”
