A federal judge in the United States has issued a temporary injunction, halting the Trump administration's controversial move to block billions of dollars in federal funding for childcare and family support programmes in five states led by Democratic governors.
Immediate Relief for States and Families
The ruling from US District Judge Arun Subramanian, a Biden appointee, grants a 14-day reprieve for the states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. These states had argued in court that the sudden funding pause, announced just days earlier, was causing immediate "operational chaos" and harming vulnerable families.
The states collectively receive more than $10 billion annually from the three affected grant programmes: the Child Care and Development Fund, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families programme, and the Social Services Block Grant. The first of these alone subsidises care for 1.3 million children from low-income households nationwide.
Administration's Claims Lack Evidence
The US Department of Health and Human Services had justified the freeze by stating it had "reason to believe" the states were granting benefits to people residing in the country illegally. However, during legal proceedings, the department failed to provide any concrete evidence to support this claim. It also did not explain why it was specifically targeting these five states and not others.
Jessica Ranucci, a lawyer for New York, warned during the hearing that delays were already occurring and would cause immediate uncertainty for childcare providers and the families who depend on these critical subsidies.
A Broader Pattern of Political Targeting
The states' lawsuit contends that the administration's action is unconstitutional and politically motivated, aimed at punishing political adversaries rather than addressing fraud. They argue they already have robust systems to prevent misuse of funds.
In a separate but related move, US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a freeze on approximately $130 million in annual funding to Minnesota, citing fraud in a pandemic-era food aid programme. This follows inflammatory remarks by President Trump about the state's Somali community.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading the multi-state legal challenge, hailed the judge's injunction as a "critical victory for families whose lives have been upended by this administration's cruelty." The court will now hear full arguments on the legality of the funding freeze within the two-week window.
