Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration's Attempt to Freeze $10 Billion in Social Services Funding to 5 Democratic States
A US District Judge has temporarily blocked the Department of Health and Human Services from halting around $10 billion in social services funding to California, New York, Minnesota, Illinois, and Colorado. The move was part of an effort by the Trump administration to crack down on alleged fraud in social programs run by these states.
However, the states claimed that the freeze was unconstitutional and amounted to a "cruel" attempt by the administration to punish Democratic states. According to US District Judge Arun Subramanian's order, the funding freeze will remain in place for 14 days while the court considers a longer-term order.
The Trump administration argued that widespread fraud had been discovered in social programs run by these states, with hundreds of millions of dollars being embezzled from child nutrition, housing, and autism programs in Minnesota. However, the five states disputed this claim, claiming it was merely a pretext to target Democratic states.
"The best way to help poor families is to end the fraud so that the money that is available for them," said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS Secretary. "And that's what we're doing." But Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul took issue with this stance, saying that there was "no justification" for the funding freeze and calling it a "cruel and illegal attempt" to play politics with the lives of children and low-income families.
The states alleged that the federal government had no right to cut off funding based on mere allegations or suspicion of fraud without following proper legal procedures. They argued that this was an unconstitutional move, which would harm programs used by needy children and families.
A US District Judge has temporarily blocked the Department of Health and Human Services from halting around $10 billion in social services funding to California, New York, Minnesota, Illinois, and Colorado. The move was part of an effort by the Trump administration to crack down on alleged fraud in social programs run by these states.
However, the states claimed that the freeze was unconstitutional and amounted to a "cruel" attempt by the administration to punish Democratic states. According to US District Judge Arun Subramanian's order, the funding freeze will remain in place for 14 days while the court considers a longer-term order.
The Trump administration argued that widespread fraud had been discovered in social programs run by these states, with hundreds of millions of dollars being embezzled from child nutrition, housing, and autism programs in Minnesota. However, the five states disputed this claim, claiming it was merely a pretext to target Democratic states.
"The best way to help poor families is to end the fraud so that the money that is available for them," said Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS Secretary. "And that's what we're doing." But Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul took issue with this stance, saying that there was "no justification" for the funding freeze and calling it a "cruel and illegal attempt" to play politics with the lives of children and low-income families.
The states alleged that the federal government had no right to cut off funding based on mere allegations or suspicion of fraud without following proper legal procedures. They argued that this was an unconstitutional move, which would harm programs used by needy children and families.
, a whole $10 billion being held up because of some alleged "fraud" claims? it sounds like a total power grab to me 
. i mean, if there's evidence of actual wrongdoing, that's one thing, but tying up billions of dollars in funding without proper investigation or due process is just not right 
. and let's be real, the fact that these states are all blue 
doesn't change the fact that this move is a huge overreach by the federal government 
. i'm glad there's at least some accountability now 
, but this whole thing needs to be looked into further 
So I'm reading this and I gotta say, I don't think it's cool that the Trump admin is trying to freeze $10 billion in social services funding just because they think some states are getting a little too generous with their social programs 
. I mean, come on! That's like saying you're gonna cut off people's access to food and housing just 'cause there's been some reported "fraud" in those programs... sounds fishy to me 
.
. I know it's a problem, but freezing funding for entire states? That's not exactly what I'd call effective law enforcement 
another example of the trumps trying to control everything and messing with people who need help the most $10 billion just frozen without any evidence or due process its like they want to punish california and colorado for having democrats in charge who cares about child nutrition and autism programs?
. It sounds like more of a witch hunt to me than an actual attempt to root out real bad behavior.
... at least someone's speaking truth to power around here.
. Those five states are literally the ones taking care of the most vulnerable folks, like kids with autism and low-income families. It's just not right that the Trump administration would try to freeze $10 billion worth of funding just because they think there might be some "fraud" going on. 
I mean, we all know how it works - when you're not in power, you get to pick and choose which programs to fund. But when you are in power, you try to cut off funding for the ones that help people the most. It's just so...typical.
. These states have been doing what they're supposed to do - provide essential services to their citizens. They shouldn't be punished for it. Let's hope this ruling holds up and the funding stays unfrozen 
.
.
. I don't care if there was some minor issue with funding, the feds can't just cut people off without following proper procedures 
.
they actually tried 2 freeze like $10 billion in social services funding to these 5 democratic states 
dont even get me started on robert f kennedy jr saying "the best way 2 help poor families is 2 end the fraud" are u kidding me? 
thats like sayin we should just cut off funding 2 food banks and see how ppl do without that's not a solution at all 
they need 2 follow proper procedures before takin action like dis 
. I mean, come on, you can't just cut off funding because some fancy-pants lawyer says there's a teensy-weensy bit of alleged fraud going on 
. But what really gets me thinking is that this is all happening because of ideological differences between the states and the federal government 
.
. i mean come on, hundreds of millions of dollars being embezzled from autism programs in minnesota? that sounds like a legit concern but not enough to justify freezing funding from 5 entire states 
. It's like they're playing politics with people's lives 
.
! Who does that? 
, not helping those who need it most 
This judge made a great call 
!
! It's just not right to freeze funding for social services to punish states just because they have Democratic leaders 
. The fact that there were 'allegations' of fraud without concrete evidence is just suspicious