Office of the
Illinois Attorney General
Kwame Raoul

Chicago – Attorney General Kwame Raoul today released the following statement after winning a preliminary injunction that prevents the Trump administration from carrying out its freeze of over $10 billion in funding for child care and support for vulnerable families.   

“This is another win that stops the Trump administration from illegally withholding federal funding without justification, which would ultimately hurt Illinois families and harm our state’s economy,” Raoul said. “Congress enacted this critical funding to support families and help working parents access child care. The president does not have the authority to withhold it, particularly as a punishment to his perceived political opponents. I will continue to stand with my colleagues to protect our most vulnerable residents from being used as pawns.” 

On Jan. 8, Attorney General Raoul joined four other attorneys general in suing the administration to protect three critical programs from the administration’s attempt to target its political opponents by freezing over $10 billion in federal funds to the states. The freeze targeted funds for the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, and the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) in the five states. 

On Jan. 9, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted the states’ motion for a temporary restraining order, blocking the implementation of the funding freeze. The court today granted the states’ motion for a preliminary injunction, continuing to block the funding freeze and allowing the states to draw down funds for the three targeted programs.   

Joining Raoul in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Minnesota and New York.