Overview
- U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian issued a temporary restraining order directing HHS to lift funding restrictions on California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.
- The freeze targeted TANF, the Child Care and Development Fund, and the Social Services Block Grant, totaling about $7.3 billion, $2.4 billion, and $870 million for the five states.
- HHS cited suspected fraud and claims that benefits were going to people in the country illegally, without publicly providing evidence for singling out these states.
- Federal letters sought extensive beneficiary data, including names, Social Security numbers, and child-care attendance records, which the states argued is unlawful and disruptive.
- The order preserves the status quo for two weeks as the court weighs a longer injunction, and HHS officials signaled they will appeal and pursue tougher verification rules nationwide.