Judge Blocks Trump's $10B Child Care Funding Freeze Targeting Blue States

Injunction means Illinois and four other Democratic-led states will have access to the funds during the case.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration from freezing $10 billion in child care and family planning funding to five Democratic-led states, including Illinois. The injunction will remain in place until the full case on the legality of the freeze is decided.

Why it matters

The $1 billion in frozen funds for Illinois supports various programs and services that hundreds of thousands of Illinois families and child care providers rely on. Without this funding, child care businesses could be forced to close, worsening an existing shortage in the state.

The details

The Trump administration announced the funding freeze in January, citing suspicions of fraud but providing no details or proof. Illinois, California, Colorado, Minnesota and New York sued over the freeze and were twice granted temporary restraining orders, the last of which was set to expire on Friday. The judge's injunction blocks the freeze until the full case can be heard, meaning the states will have access to the funds during that time.

  • On January 1, 2026, the Trump administration announced the $10 billion funding freeze.
  • On February 6, 2026, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the freeze.
  • The injunction will remain in place until the full case on the legality of the freeze is decided.

The players

Vernon S. Broderick

A federal judge for the Southern District of New York who issued the preliminary injunction blocking the Trump administration's child care funding freeze.

Trump administration

The former presidential administration that announced the $10 billion funding freeze, citing suspicions of fraud but providing no details or proof.

Illinois

One of five Democratic-led states that sued over the Trump administration's child care funding freeze, which would have cut $1 billion in funding for the state.

California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York

The four other Democratic-led states that joined Illinois in suing over the Trump administration's child care funding freeze.

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What’s next

The judge's injunction will remain in place until the full case on the legality of the Trump administration's child care funding freeze is decided.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing political battles over federal funding, with the Trump administration accused of targeting Democratic-led states. The outcome will have significant implications for hundreds of thousands of families and child care providers in Illinois and other affected states who rely on this critical funding.