California is suing Trump’s administration over $10-billion in child care money

California is suing the Trump administration for its “unreasonable and cruel” decision to freeze $10 billion in federal funding for child care and family assistance shared between California and four other Democratic-led states, Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced on Thursday.

The lawsuit was filed jointly by the five states affected by the epidemic – California, New York, Minnesota, Illinois and Colorado – for the Trump administration’s allegations of widespread fraud within their welfare programs. California alone faces a loss of about $5 billion, including $1.4 billion for child care programs.

The lawsuit alleges that the suspension is based on baseless claims of fraud and a violation of Congress’s spending power as enshrined in the US Constitution. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“This is the latest example of Trump’s willingness to throw vulnerable children, vulnerable families and seniors under the bus if he thinks it will further his vendetta against California and Democratic-led states,” Bonta said at a Thursday evening news conference.

The $10 billion funding freeze follows the administration’s decision to freeze $185 million in child care funding in Minnesota, where state officials say nearly half of the $18 billion paid to 14 state-run programs since 2018 may have been fraudulent. During this conflict, Gov. Tim Walz ordered a third-party audit and announced he would not seek a third term.

Bonta said the letters sent by the US Department of Health and Human Services announcing the suspension on Tuesday do not provide evidence to support allegations of fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in California. The suspension applies to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, the Social Services Block Program and the Child Care and Development Fund.

“This is the funding that California parents depend on to get the safe and reliable child care they need so they can go to work and support their families,” she said. “Funding that helps families in crisis of homelessness to stay on top of their heads.”

Bonta also raised concerns about Health and Human Services’ request that California turn over all documents related to the state’s implementation of the three programs. This requires the state to share personally identifiable information about program participants, a move Bonta calls “deeply concerning and deeply questionable.”

“The administration does not have the authority to override the established, official program that our states have already done to submit programs and get approval for these funds,” said Bonta. “It does not have the authority to override the US Constitution and trample on the powers of Congress.”

The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Manhattan and marked the 53rd lawsuit California has filed against the Trump administration since the president was inaugurated last January. It is asking the court to block the freeze and the administration’s sweeping demands for documents and data.