No, Trump can't use example of fraud in Minnesota to block childcare subisidies to 5 blue states, judge says | Fortune

"A federal judge ruled Friday that President Donald Trump's administration cannot block federal money for child care subsidies and other programs aimed at supporting low-income families with children from flowing to five Democratic-led states for now. The states of California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York argued that a policy announced Tuesday to freeze billions of dollars in funds for three grant programs is having an immediate impact on them and creating "operational chaos.""

"In court filings and a hearing earlier Friday, the states contended that the government did not have a legal reason for withholding the money from them. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it was pausing the funding because it had "reason to believe" the states were granting benefits to people in the country illegally, though it did not provide evidence or explain why it was targeting those states and not others."

"U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who was nominated to the bench by President Joe Biden, did not rule on the legality of the funding freeze but said the five states met a legal threshold "to protect the status quo" for at least 14 days while arguments are made in court. Health department officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment."

A federal judge barred the administration from blocking federal funds for child care subsidies and other programs supporting low-income families from flowing to five Democratic-led states. California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York said a policy announced Tuesday to freeze billions for three grant programs had an immediate impact and created operational chaos. The Department of Health and Human Services said it paused funding because it had "reason to believe" the states were granting benefits to people in the country illegally but offered no evidence or explanation for targeting those states. The affected programs include the Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and the Social Services Block Grant.

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