Donald Trump is continuing his “war” on Democratic-led states. Now, five of them have been cut from billion-dollar funding due to fraud concerns.
The Trump administration has, in an effort to address alleged fraud in federal programs, moved to freeze more than $10 billion in funding to five states. Those are California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.
The funding for social services and child care is being cut as they suspect it benefits non-citizens, government officials told the NY Post.
The Department of Health and Human Services is freezing taxpayer funding from the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, and the Social Services Block Grant program.
Over $7.3 billion in TANF funding would be withheld from the states. Also, $2.4 billion from the CCDF and another $869 million from the Social Services Block Grant.
“For too long, Democrat-led states and Governors have been complicit in allowing massive amounts of fraud to occur under their watch,” Andrew Nixon, an HHS spokesperson, said in a statement. “Under the Trump Administration, we are ensuring that federal taxpayer dollars are being used for legitimate purposes. We will ensure these states are following the law and protecting hard-earned taxpayer money.”
Trump cuts off over $10 billion in funding to these five states
ACF Assistant Secretary Alex Adams wrote in each letter to the states, “These concerns have been heightened by recent federal prosecutions and additional allegations that substantial portions of federal resources were fraudulently diverted away from the American families they were intended to assist.”
Everyone isn’t buying it. Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand from New York accused the Trump administration of using the cuts as political retaliation. She has issued a warning, stating it will hurt children as well as low-income families across her home state.
“Trump is threatening to freeze child care funding in New York and targeting our children for political retribution. It’s immoral and indefensible,” Gillibrand wrote in a post on X. “I’m demanding the administration abandon any plans to freeze this funding and stop hurting New York families.”
Hefty criticism
Along with her post, Gillibrand also shared a public statement about the funds freeze.
“My faith guides my life and public service. It’s our job to serve the people most in need and most at risk – no matter what state they live in or what political party their family or elected representatives belong to,” Gillibrand said. “To use the power of the government to harm the neediest Americans is immoral and indefensible.
“This has nothing to do with fraud and everything to do with political retribution that punishes poor children in need of assistance,” the senator added. “I demand that President Trump unfreeze this funding and stop this brazen attack on our children.”
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