Judge Temporarily Blocks HHS Freeze on Child Care and Other Funds for Five States
A judge barred HHS from freezing about ten billion dollars for California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York for fourteen days while legal challenges proceed.
Overview
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian granted a 14-day order preventing HHS from withholding roughly $10 billion in federal grants to five Democratic-led states.
HHS paused payments for the Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and the Social Services Block Grant, citing suspected improper benefits.
California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York sued, arguing the freeze unlawfully withholds Congress-approved aid and causes immediate operational chaos for programs serving low-income families.
HHS requested extensive recipient data, including names and Social Security numbers since 2022; states say the demand is overbroad, politically motivated, and lacks provided evidence of wrongdoing.
The judge did not resolve the merits of the fraud allegations, instead preserving the status quo while courts consider whether the administration legally withheld funds and demanded data.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as an abuse of power by foregrounding the states' constitutional claims, emphasizing harm to low-income families and noting HHS's unspecified allegations without detailed evidence. They prioritize state officials' statements, highlight the administration's lack of immediate comment, and link enforcement actions to targeting of the Somali community.
Sources (7)
FAQ
The freeze targeted three major programs: the Child Care and Development Fund (which helps subsidize child care), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (cash assistance and related services for low-income families), and the Social Services Block Grant (which funds a range of social services such as child welfare and services for vulnerable adults).
HHS said it froze the funds because it had reason to believe there was systemic fraud and improper payments in these social programs, including concerns that some benefits were going to people in the country illegally, and it wanted to conduct a thorough review of state records before allowing further payments.
California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York argued that HHS was unlawfully and unconstitutionally withholding congressionally approved aid based only on suspicions of fraud, without following required procedures, and that the sudden freeze caused immediate “operational chaos” for programs serving low-income children and families.
Judge Subramanian issued a 14-day temporary restraining order that prevents HHS from withholding the roughly $10 billion in grants while the case proceeds, keeping money flowing under the existing system but without resolving whether HHS’s fraud concerns or data demands are legally valid.
HHS demanded extensive information on recipients back to 2022, including names and Social Security numbers, so it could verify eligibility and investigate suspected improper payments; the states say the request is overbroad, intrusive, politically motivated, and not backed by specific evidence of widespread fraud.
History
4 sources