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Five Democratic-led states have filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) froze their access to more than $10 billion in federal childcare and family assistance funds. The legal challenge, filed Thursday in federal court in Manhattan by California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York, argues that the funding freeze is unlawful, politically motivated, and harmful to low-income families who rely on federal support programs.
The dispute began after HHS announced on Tuesday that it had restricted the states’ access to federal funds pending further review, citing concerns over alleged fraud and misuse in state-administered welfare systems. The frozen funding includes approximately $7.3 billion from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, nearly $2.4 billion from the Child Care and Development Fund, and an additional $869 million in social services block grants. These programs are overseen by the Administration for Children and Families, a division within HHS.
According to the agency, the decision was based on what it described as “widespread fraud” and the potential that individuals who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents may have improperly received benefits. The action follows a similar move a week earlier, when HHS froze $185 million in annual childcare funding allocated to Minnesota amid allegations of fraud in the state’s social services programs.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently announced he will not seek a third term, stating that he intends to focus on addressing the fraud controversy. Meanwhile, Democratic leaders across the affected states have strongly criticized the funding freeze. New York Governor Kathy Hochul labeled the move “vindictive,” while Illinois Governor JB Pritzker described it as “wrong and cruel.”
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading the lawsuit, said the administration is using essential family assistance funds as a political weapon. The lawsuit claims HHS failed to provide credible evidence supporting its fraud allegations, lacked legal authority to halt congressionally approved funding, and violated the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers by encroaching on Congress’s control over federal spending.
