California sues Trump administration over 'baseless and cruel' freezing of child-care funds
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California is suing the Trump administration over its “baseless and cruel” decision to freeze $10 billion in federal funding for child care and family assistance allocated to California and four other Democratic-led states, Atty.Gen.
Rob Bonta announced Thursday.The lawsuit was filed jointly by the five states targeted by the freeze — California, New York, Minnesota, Illinois and Colorado — over the Trump administration’s allegations of widespread fraud within their welfare systems.California alone is facing a loss of about $5 billion in funding, including $1.4 billion for child-care programs.The lawsuit alleges that the freeze is based on unfounded claims of fraud and infringes on Congress’ spending power as enshrined in the U.S.
Constitution.The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.“This is just the latest example of Trump’s willingness to throw vulnerable children, vulnerable families and seniors under the bus if he thinks it will advance his vendetta against California and Democratic-led states,” Bonta said at a Thursday evening news conference.
California Gov.Gavin Newsom and other state Democratic leaders accused President Trump of unleashing a political vendetta after freezing roughly $10 billion in federal funding for child care and social services programs in California and four other states.The $10-billion funding freeze follows the administration’s decision to freeze $185 million in child-care funds to Minnesota, where federal officials allege that as much as half of the roughly $18 billion paid to 14 state-run programs since 2018 may have been fraudulent.
Amid the fallout, Gov.Tim Walz has ordered a third-party audit and announced that he will not seek a third term.Bonta said that letters sent by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services announcing the freeze Tuesday provided no evidence to back up claims of ...