Overview
- U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian issued a temporary restraining order directing the administration to lift the funding restrictions for 14 days.
- The freeze had targeted the Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and the Social Services Block Grant totaling more than $10 billion for California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.
- HHS said it had reason to believe some benefits went to people without legal status and cited fraud concerns, but state-specific evidence was not included in the letters sent to the five states.
- Federal letters sought attendance documentation and recipient names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth back to at least 2022, with a Jan. 20 deadline for submission.
- Administration officials signaled they will fight the order and expand oversight, while states and providers warned even short interruptions or new documentation burdens could destabilize child care centers and services for low-income families.