Federal Judge Thaws Out Millions in Funding for Low-Income New Yorkers, Four Other States
A Manhattan federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's decision to freeze billions of dollars in funding for child care and anti-poverty programs serving hundreds of thousands of low-income families across five states. The ruling comes as a reprieve for New York and its peers, with a temporary restraining order remaining in effect until further notice.
Earlier this week, the Department of Human Services announced it would be withholding $10 billion from three major federal programs: the Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Social Services Block Grant. The decision was made under the guise of investigating potential fraud but has been widely criticized by state officials.
New York and its four Democratic-led counterparts β presumably California, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Vermont β sued the Trump administration over the funding freeze, arguing it would cause irreparable harm to vulnerable families who rely on these programs. The states maintained that the cuts could result in the disruption of essential services and that the administration's actions were unjustified.
In a swift response to the lawsuit, Judge Arun Subramanian ruled in favor of the states, ordering federal officials to lift restrictions on the funds until further litigation is completed. This means that state agencies can now begin drawing down funds under these programs without fear of interruption.
The decision marks a temporary victory for New York and its peers but highlights the ongoing struggle between state governments and the Trump administration over funding priorities. With the current funding freeze lifted, hundreds of thousands of low-income families across five states will be one step closer to accessing essential services that many rely on to get by each day.
A Manhattan federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's decision to freeze billions of dollars in funding for child care and anti-poverty programs serving hundreds of thousands of low-income families across five states. The ruling comes as a reprieve for New York and its peers, with a temporary restraining order remaining in effect until further notice.
Earlier this week, the Department of Human Services announced it would be withholding $10 billion from three major federal programs: the Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and the Social Services Block Grant. The decision was made under the guise of investigating potential fraud but has been widely criticized by state officials.
New York and its four Democratic-led counterparts β presumably California, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Vermont β sued the Trump administration over the funding freeze, arguing it would cause irreparable harm to vulnerable families who rely on these programs. The states maintained that the cuts could result in the disruption of essential services and that the administration's actions were unjustified.
In a swift response to the lawsuit, Judge Arun Subramanian ruled in favor of the states, ordering federal officials to lift restrictions on the funds until further litigation is completed. This means that state agencies can now begin drawing down funds under these programs without fear of interruption.
The decision marks a temporary victory for New York and its peers but highlights the ongoing struggle between state governments and the Trump administration over funding priorities. With the current funding freeze lifted, hundreds of thousands of low-income families across five states will be one step closer to accessing essential services that many rely on to get by each day.