Overview
- U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian issued a temporary restraining order requiring HHS to lift new restrictions for two weeks while the case proceeds.
- The lawsuit by California, New York, Minnesota, Illinois and Colorado argues the freeze violates federal law and constitutional spending limits, and seeks a longer injunction.
- HHS said it paused funds based on a “reason to believe” standard involving fraud and benefits to people lacking legal status, but it did not present public evidence for targeting these states.
- 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 respectively.
- HHS demanded extensive records including names, Social Security numbers and dates of birth with a Jan. 20 deadline, drawing privacy concerns as Minnesota-centered fraud probes and a viral video fueled the dispute.