The Trump administration is now waging more political war with Democrat-led states, announcing the withholding of $10 billion in social services funding to five states: Minnesota, California, New York, Illinois, and Colorado.

Citing wide-scale fraud for which there has been no evidence outside of Minnesota, the Trump administration is reportedly freezing funds distributed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Administration officials broke the news with the New York Post Tuesday, saying that the freeze would affect $7 billion for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, around $2.4 billion for the Child Care Development Fund, and $870 million for social services grants primarily benefiting children.

The sudden freeze at five states with large populations is bound to disrupt funding for poor families, and it comes in response to conservative furor over a fraud scandal that's been unfolding in Minnesota involving billions of dollars in social services funds.

President Trump, on Truth Social on Tuesday, made reference to an investigation of potential similar fraud in California that has not been announced, and no evidence of this type of fraud in California has recently come to light.

"California, under Governor Gavin Newscum, is more corrupt than Minnesota, if that’s possible??? The Fraud Investigation of California has begun," Trump wrote.

"For too long, Democrat-led states and Governors have been complicit in allowing massive amounts of fraud to occur under their watch," said HHS spokesperson Andrew Nixon, in a statement, per CBS News. "Under the Trump Administration, we are ensuring that federal taxpayer dollars are being used for legitimate purposes. We will ensure these states are following the law and protecting hard-earned taxpayer money."

The attack is broad and, of course, without evidence outside of the Minnesota cases, in which over 90 people face charges in connection with fraudulent dealings in multiple social programs, including ones that serve hungry children, children with autism, seniors, and people with disabilities. Many of those charged, though not all, are of Somali descent, as CBS notes, and this has further fueled conservative ire about the scandal.

One Somali-linked nonprofit, Feeding Our Future, is accused of using $250 million in COVID-era grants to purchase luxury cars and real estate.

The Minnesota scandals appear to have, at least for now, dealt a significant blow to Governor Tim Walz's political future, and he announced Monday that he was ending his run for a third term as governor.

He said at a press conference, "We’ll win the fight against the fraudsters, but the political gamesmanship we’re seeing from Republicans is only making that fight harder."

"To use the power of the government to harm the neediest Americans is immoral and indefensible," said New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in a statement today, about the funding freezes. "This has nothing to do with fraud and everything to do with political retribution that punishes poor children in need of assistance."

And the Illinois Department of Human Services said in a statement, "This is yet another politically-motivated action by the Trump Administration that confuses families and leaves states with more questions than answers."

As with the administration's attempt to withhold SNAP funds last fall during the government shutdown, using the funds as a baldfaced political weapon against Democrats, this move is likely to face immediate legal challenges.

Top image: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a press conference at the State Capitol building on January 5, 2026 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Walz announced today that he is abandoning his re-election campaign for governor, blaming scrutiny from President Donald Trump for his decision. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)