US President Donald Trump. (Reuters)
Digital Desk, New Delhi. US President Donald Trump's administration has frozen more than $10 billion in funds related to child care and assistance to poor families. This decision will be applicable to the states of New York, California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (SHS), this step has been taken due to the fear of fraud and misuse of funds.
The department has made it clear that funds will not be released until the review is completed. The frozen funds include approximately $2.4 billion of Child Care and Development Fund, approximately $7.35 billion of Assistance for Poor Families (TANF) and approximately $869 million of Social Services Block Grant.
All these states are led by Chief Ministers of the Democratic Party. The opposition has reacted sharply after the decision. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said that making children pawns in a political battle is cruel. At the same time, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also called this step wrong and inhumane.
(With inputs from news agency Reuters)