States Sue After HHS Freezes Welfare Aid Under Trump

Five Democratic-led states asked a federal judge to restore billions in welfare aid after HHS froze their shares of food, housing, and child-care funding under the Trump administration over unspecified fraud allegations.New York, California, Colorado, Illinois, and Minnesota sued in federal court in Manhattan, saying the freeze lacks lawful authority and evidence and could strip assistance from needy families.The states also seek to block a 14-day demand for extensive records including Social Security numbers, after HHS expanded its Defend the Spend system and cited a Minnesota-centered probe tied to alleged Minneapolis day care fraud.