Attorney General Ellison wins temporary pause to Trump Administration’s attempt to freeze billions for childcare and support for vulnerable families
Judge issues temporary restraining order pausing Trump Administration’s attempt to freeze $10 billion in critical support for families in five states
Trump Administration attempted to freeze funding in Minnesota used to assist low-income parents who are working or in school to pay for childcare, helps low-income families with children afford gas, groceries, and rent, and supports Minnesota's foster care system
January 9, 2026 (SAINT PAUL) — Today, Attorney General Ellison and a coalition of four other attorneys general won a temporary restraining order in the lawsuit they filed yesterday to stop the Trump administration from illegally withholding of over $10 billion in critical funds to their states that help ensure low-income families can afford childcare, housing, food, and more. The temporary restraining order, issued by a judge in the Southern District of New York, blocks the Trump administration from enacting the freeze it threatened to Child Care Development Fund, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and Social Services Block Grants programs on January 5 and 6. The temporary restraining order will last for two weeks, during which time the plaintiff states will have the opportunity to seek a preliminary injunction, which would seek to block the freeze for the duration of this lawsuit.
“I’m pleased we were able to secure emergency relief preventing the Trump Administration from moving ahead with an immediate action that could devastate childcare services across Minnesota,” said Attorney General Ellison. “Without this relief, parents or caregivers in poor families may have been forced to choose between paying the bills by going to work and staying home to provide childcare during their working hours. Minnesota’s childcare system generally could have suffered immensely without this funding. Childcare centers may have been forced to lay off staff or even close their doors entirely, which would harm even families that don’t benefit directly from the programs Trump tried to freeze. This temporary pause to Trump’s latest assault on Minnesota is great news, and my team and I will be in court working to permanently block Trump’s illegal and deeply cruel actions.”
In Minnesota, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) administers the three funding programs at issue in this lawsuit, each of which support different critical forms of support for low-income families with children. CCDF funding, for example, assists low-income parents who are working or in school to pay for childcare at the times they need it most, and ensures money is invested in the overall safety, quality, and availability of childcare services for all children. TANF funding includes assistance aimed at helping low-income families with children afford essentials like gas, groceries, and rent. SSBG funding provides flexible support for a range of child welfare services implemented through the state and counties, including foster care funding.
Attorney General Ellison and the coalition assert that the administration has provided no legitimate justification for freezing these funds. While the letters sent to states claim that the freeze is necessary to prevent “potential” fraud, the lawsuit asserts that the administration is exploiting the pretext of “fraud” concerns to cut programs the Trump Administration has always wanted to cut, and to attack states based on the political party of their leadership. Attorney General Ellison and the coalition argue that the administration’s actions – which ignore the detailed legal requirements for imposing sanctions under these programs – violate the law and the Constitution. The administration’s actions also ignore the laws and regulations governing these ACF programs and violate Congress’s power over spending and the constitutional principle of separation of powers. Attorney General Ellison and the coalition are seeking a court order declaring the funding freeze illegal and preventing it from being implemented.
Joining Attorney General Ellison in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Illinois, and New York.
