Another major legal setback has landed on the Trump administration, as a federal judge moved swiftly to block an effort to freeze $10 billion in social safety net funding relied on by millions of low-income families. The ruling orders welfare funds to continue flowing to California, New York, Illinois, Colorado, and Minnesota, after state officials warned the sudden freeze was already disrupting critical programs.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian issued an emergency injunction, temporarily stopping the administration from cutting off money allocated for child care assistance, cash aid for families, and essential social services grants. In his decision, the judge raised serious questions about whether the White House has the authority to withhold funds already approved by Congress.
The administration has argued the freeze was necessary due to alleged concerns over fraud and misuse, but the states say no evidence was provided. The case now sets up a broader legal fight over executive power, congressional authority, and the limits of federal control over welfare funding.
00:24Another legal roadblock slams into the Trump administration.
00:29A federal judge has just halted a sweeping move to freeze $10 billion in social safety net funding,
00:36money that millions of low-income families rely on.
00:40It's the latest setback in a growing courtroom battle over executive power,
00:45welfare policy, and the limits of federal authority.
00:50A U.S. district judge on Friday ordered that critical welfare funds must keep flowing
00:56to five Democratic-led states – California, New York, Illinois, Colorado, and Minnesota.
01:03The ruling comes after those states warned the sudden freeze was triggering chaos
01:08in programs serving vulnerable families.
01:14The decision was issued by Judge Arun Subramanian, who granted an emergency injunction requested by the states.
01:21His order temporarily blocks the administration from cutting funds from three major programs –
01:27child care assistance, cash aid for families, and social services grants.
01:33Judge Subramanian's ruling will remain in effect for two weeks, giving both sides time to submit detailed legal arguments.
01:41The judge signaled serious concerns over whether the administration had the authority to withhold money already approved by Congress.
01:53Earlier this week, the Department of Health and Human Services notified the five states that billions in funding would be frozen.
02:01California alone stood to lose nearly half of the $10 billion targeted in the freeze.
02:07The Trump administration defended the move by citing what it called serious concerns about fraud and misuse of taxpayer money in state-run welfare programs.
02:17But the states say no evidence was provided to justify such a sweeping action.
02:24State officials warned that the freeze was already disrupting child care centers, social workers, and aid payments.
02:32They described the move as an abrupt shock to systems designed to protect low-income families with children.
02:39California Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by Attorneys General from the other four states, filed a lawsuit late Thursday night.
02:47They argued the administration was overstepping its powers and attempting to override Congress.
02:53The welfare freeze followed renewed scrutiny after a major fraud scandal involving federal funds in Minnesota.
03:02Republicans have seized on that case to push for tighter controls, but the court made clear broad freezes require legal backing.
03:10For now, the ruling delivers a sharp legal blow to the Trump administration and a lifeline to millions of families.
03:18But with the injunction set to expire in two weeks, the battle over welfare funding and executive power is far from over.
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