Five state attorneys general announced Thursday that they are suing the Trump administration for freezing $10 billion in child care and family assistance funding in five Democratic-led states.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said Tuesday in a press release that the freeze was due to “serious concerns about widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in state-administered programs.” The pause in funding impacts California, New York, Minnesota, Illinois and Colorado.
“HHS has not provided any evidence at all to support those claims,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) said in a statement.
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) accused the administration of overstepping its authority without congressional approval. James and the other attorneys general argued that “freezing these funds will immediately jeopardize some of the most important anti-poverty programs in the states, putting vulnerable families at risk,” according to a statement from James’ office.
“Once again, the most vulnerable families in our communities are bearing the brunt of this administration’s campaign of chaos and retribution,” she continued. “After jeopardizing food assistance and health care, this administration is now threatening to cut off childcare and other critical programs that parents depend on to provide for their children. As New Yorkers struggle with the rising cost of living, I will not allow this administration to play political games with the resources families need to help make ends meet.”
Bonta echoed this, adding that Trump’s “‘America First’ rhetoric is exposed as nothing more than smoke and mirrors.”
“If he thinks that his attacks on Democratic-led states will cause us to bend to his will, he is sorely mistaken,” he continued. “For the 53rd time, the Trump Administration has broken the law, and for the 53rd time, I’m taking them to court.”
The three programs affected by the freeze are the Child Care and Development Fund, with nearly $2.4 billion frozen; the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, with $7.35 billion frozen; and the Social Services Block Grant, with $869 million frozen, according to HHS.
The funding freeze comes after an expansive welfare fraud scandal involving federal funds erupted in Minnesota. Republicans have raised more scrutiny over the issue after Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) announced he was not seeking another term amid growing criticism.
Trump and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said California was also being investigated over federal spending programs, though further details about the probe have not been released.
“The president has directed all agencies across the board to look at federal spending programs in not just Minnesota, but also in the state of California to identify fraud and to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law all those who have committed it,” Leavitt told reporters on Wednesday.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) hit back at the White House and the Republican Party over accusations of fraud in the Golden State.
“Rather than making up fraud numbers, why don’t you listen to the Republican congressmen from California calling for the President to act on federal aid to support ongoing rebuilding efforts?” Newsom wrote Wednesday on social platform X, referring to rebuilding efforts in areas affected by last year’s devastating fires in Los Angeles.