5 states sue Trump administration for freezing social services funding
Source: CBS News/AP
January 8, 2026 / 11:06 PM EST
Attorneys general in five Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit Thursday against the Trump administration after it said it would freeze money for several public benefit programs, citing concerns about fraud in the programs designed to help low-income families.
The states — California, Colorado, Minnesota, Illinois and New York — called the move an unconstitutional abuse of power. The Trump administration announced earlier this week it was withholding their social safety net funding. The funding went toward three federal programs, two of which focus on lifting families with children out of poverty.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading the lawsuit, said the Trump administration is overstepping its authority by freezing billions of dollars in funds that were already approved for the states by Congress. The lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York asks the courts to order the administration to halt the freeze and release the funds.
"Once again, the most vulnerable families in our communities are bearing the brunt of this administration's campaign of chaos and retribution," James said.
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/5-states-sue-trump-administration-for-freezing-social-services-funding/
Link to NY AG Letitia James PRESS RELEASE - Attorney General James Sues Trump Administration to Protect Billions of Dollars for Childcare and Support for Vulnerable Families
Link to SUIT (PDF) - https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/court-filings/state-of-new-york-et-al-v-administration-for-children-and-families-et-al-complaint-2026.pdf
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