Attorney General Kwame Raoul has obtained a temporary restraining order from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, halting the Trump administration’s plan to freeze $10 billion in federal funding intended for child care and family support.
Raoul, along with attorneys general from California, Colorado, Minnesota, and New York, filed a lawsuit challenging the administration’s decision and requested an immediate court order to prevent disruption in aid to families.
“I’m pleased with the court’s decision, which protects critical funding to support families and help working parents access child care,” Raoul said. “There is no justification for this attempted funding freeze. It is a cruel and illegal attempt by the Trump administration to play politics with the lives of children and low-income families. I remain committed to protecting Illinois residents from bearing the brunt of this president’s continued disregard for our Constitution and the rule of law.”
The attempted freeze would have affected about $1 billion allocated for Illinois families and service providers. These funds allow low-income families to access child care services so that parents can work or attend school. The funding also supports after-school and summer programs, temporary cash assistance for families in need, initiatives promoting economic self-sufficiency, and programs addressing neglect or abuse of children and vulnerable adults.
In their legal filing, Raoul and his counterparts argue that even short-term interruptions could cause serious harm to families, state economies, and public services. They contend that the administration’s action violates both federal administrative law and constitutional spending rules.
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