Trump administration freezes $10 billion in child, family aid
U.S. President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attend the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission event in the East Room of the White House on May 22, 2025 in Washington, DC, USA.
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters
Trump administration says weather is freezing Tuesday night $10 billion in federal grant funds for certain child care and family assistance programs in five states due to “serious concerns about widespread fraud” in state-run programs.
All five states targeted by the freeze (California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York) are run by Democrats.
The action applies to three programs overseen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families: Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Social Services Block Grant.
“Families who rely on child care and family assistance programs deserve confidence that these resources are being used lawfully and for their intended purpose,” HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said in a statement.
“This action reflects our commitment to program integrity, fiscal responsibility and compliance with federal requirements,” O’Neill said.
More than $7.3 billion in TANF funds was frozen and approximately $2.4 billion in CCDF funds was frozen. Approximately $840 million in Social Services Block Grant funds were frozen.
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