President Donald Trump’s administration said on Tuesday it would withhold funding for a program that supports poor families with children in five Democratic-led states over concerns about fraud.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the program, will require states to provide additional documentation to receive funding.
“Families who rely on child care and family assistance programs should have confidence that these resources are being used legally and for their intended purposes,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said in a statement.
The government has not released details about the fraud allegations.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in an evening statement that it “identified concerns that these benefits, which are intended for U.S. citizens and legal residents, may have been improperly provided to individuals who are ineligible under federal law.”
Five states — California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York — were targeted, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said they had been notified.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said earlier in the day that New York was prepared to take the administration to court, something Democratic-led states have done dozens of times.
“We will fight this with all our might because our children should not be political pawns in the fight between Donald Trump and blue state governors,” she said.
The New York Post first reported the plan to withhold funds.
Program aimed at helping children in need and their families
These targeted programs provide a lifeline to some of the most needy Americans:
— The Child Care and Development Fund provides day care subsidies to low-income families so parents can work or go to school.
— Temporary Assistance for Needy Families provides cash assistance and job training so poor parents can afford diapers and clothes and earn a wage.
— social services clogged Grant is a much smaller fund that supports several different social service programs.
“These resources support families in need, helping them obtain food and more. If true, it would be horrific to see the federal government target families and children most in need in this way,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis’ office said in a statement.
Trump himself has yet to reveal specific details, but he announced on social media on Tuesday: “A fraud investigation in California has begun.”
Tara Gallegos, a spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, said by email that “Donald Trump is a deranged, habitual liar whose relationship with reality ended years ago.” She also defended California’s record of stamping out fraud in government programs.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said Trump’s move to halt funding was about scoring political points rather than stopping fraud.
“Our job is to serve the people who are most in need and most at risk — no matter what state they live in or what political party their family members or elected representatives belong to,” she said in a statement. “Using the power of government to harm Americans who need help most is unethical and indefensible.”
Trump administration amplifies fraud claims
For months, they have claimed that federally funded programs were defrauded and used that as a reason to withhold funds.
Federal child care funding in Minnesota has been on hold since late last month amid an investigation into a case A series of alleged fraudulent schemes A daycare center run by people with family roots in Somalia.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that in this incident No state will receive child care funds No need to provide further verification. Some states told The Associated Press they have not received any guidance on the decision.
The government also made allegations involving fraud breakThe country’s main food aid program says it will Stop administrative funding to states, most of which are run by Democrats, unless they provide details about recipients upon request. This process can take several months.
The government said information provided by most Republican-controlled states suggested the fraud may have been Worse than previously thoughtalthough it does not provide data or detailed reporting.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Muhammad Oz tells us fox News emerged Tuesday that his agency also plans to audit Minnesota’s Medicaid bill to look for potential fraud. He presented no evidence of fraud that was discovered.
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Associated Press reporters Anthony Izaguirre, Steve Karnowski, Trân Nguyễn, Todd Richmond, Colleen Slevin, Darlene Superville and Sophie Tareen contributed.