Judge blocks Trump child‑care funding freeze for Minnesota
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Trump administration from freezing child‑care and other federal program funds for five states, including Minnesota, at least for now. The order means key federal dollars that support child‑care and related services may continue flowing to Minnesota pending further litigation, easing some pressure on state agencies and providers in the Twin Cities that had been bracing for a cutoff tied to fraud disputes.
📌 Key Facts
- A U.S. District Court judge granted an injunction blocking the Trump administration’s attempt to halt child‑care and other program money for five states, one of which is Minnesota.
- The ruling temporarily preserves federal funding streams while legal challenges over the administration’s authority and rationale proceed.
- Minnesota agencies, counties and child‑care providers in the Twin Cities had been facing an imminent funding freeze as part of a broader federal fraud crackdown.
📊 Relevant Data
Nearly all defendants in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, which defrauded over $250 million in federal funds meant for child nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic, are from the Somali community in Minnesota.
A Somali-American former investigator: why you're hearing about fraud in my community — Minnesota Reformer
Somali immigrants in Minnesota have a poverty rate of 36%, compared to the statewide poverty rate of about 9%.
Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the United States, with approximately 64,354 Somalis making up 1.12% of the state's total population.
Somali Population by State 2025 — World Population Review
Somalis began resettling in Minnesota in the early 1990s to escape civil war and famine, attracted by the state's generous social programs and history of welcoming immigrants.
A Somali-American former investigator: why you're hearing about fraud in my community — Minnesota Reformer
Organizations such as Catholic Charities have been involved in refugee resettlement programs in Minnesota since 1975, assisting with Somali resettlement.
Refugee Resettlement Programs, Refugee Settlement Services — Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time