Federal judge stops Trump fund cutback

Newsweek - A federal judge in New York has blocked President Donald Trump's administration from cutting funds to social service programs in five Democrat-led states.

The ruling came on Friday from U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick, who sided with Minnesota, California, Illinois, New York and Colorado. The states were granted a motion for a preliminary injunction.

Collectively, these states receive more than $10 billion annually from federal programs that provide child care, nutrition, and family assistance. The funding cuts targeted three key programs: the Child Care and Development Fund, which helps pay for child care for about 1.3 million children from low-income families; Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which offers cash aid and job training; and the Social Services Block Grant, a smaller funding stream that supports local services.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had moved to freeze funding for the programs, citing “serious concerns about widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in state-administered programs.” It argued the pause was necessary because they had “reason to believe” benefits were being granted to individuals living in the country illegally.