{"id":103656,"date":"2026-01-02T21:11:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T21:11:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/103656\/"},"modified":"2026-01-02T21:11:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T21:11:12","slug":"after-minnesota-fraud-allegations-hhs-orders-states-to-justify-child-care-spending-tallahassee-reports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/103656\/","title":{"rendered":"After Minnesota Fraud Allegations, HHS Orders States to Justify Child Care Spending \u2013 Tallahassee Reports"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Shauneen Miranda, Florida Phoenix<\/a><\/p>\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 States must now provide \u201cjustification\u201d that federal childcare funds they receive are spent on \u201clegitimate\u201d providers in order to get those dollars, President Donald Trump\u2019s administration announced.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Tuesday shift in policy came following\u00a0allegations of fraud in Minnesota\u2019s child care programs,\u00a0<\/a>which prompted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to freeze all child care payments to the state.\u00a0<\/p>\n

HHS could not offer many specifics on how the review process will play out for other states, but clarified that the money in question is provided through the multibillion-dollar federal Child Care and Development Fund, or CCDF.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cStates will be required to provide documentation, such as written justification, receipts, or photographic evidence, demonstrating that funds are supporting legitimate child care providers,\u201d Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for HHS, said in a statement to States Newsroom on Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

CCDF provides federal funding to states, territories and tribes to help low-income families obtain child care.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The program, administered within the Office of Child Care under HHS\u2019 Administration for Children and Families, combines funding from the Child Care and Development Block Grant, or CCDBG, and the Child Care Entitlement to States, or CCES.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Funding for CCDF in\u00a0fiscal year 2025<\/a>\u00a0stood at roughly $12.3 billion \u2014 comprising $8.75 billion from CCDBG and $3.55 billion from CCES.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Head Start \u2014 a separate program that provides early childhood education, nutritious meals, health screenings and other support services to low-income families \u2014 does not appear to be affected.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In a Tuesday\u00a0social media post<\/a>\u00a0announcing the move, Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O\u2019Neill said he had \u201cactivated our defend the spend system for all ACF payments\u201d and \u201cstarting today, all ACF payments across America will require a justification and a receipt or photo evidence before we send money to a state.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

He clarified in a\u00a0separate post<\/a>\u00a0shortly after that \u201cfunds will be released only when states prove they are being spent legitimately.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Funds undergo \u2018regular audits\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cFederal funding enables millions of parents in every state and Congressional district to access and afford quality child care,\u201d Sarah Rittling, executive director of First Five Years Fund, a federal advocacy group, said in a Wednesday statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Rittling added that \u201cthese funds are essential to the nation\u2019s well-being, allowing parents to work while ensuring their children are cared for and safe.\u201d ??<\/p>\n

She also described the reports of potential fraud as \u201cdeeply concerning\u201d and pointed out that \u201cstate oversight through regular audits is required by law to ensure that every dollar intended to protect and support young children is used properly and effectively.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the same time, we must ensure that nothing takes away from making sure funds for child care continue to reach the children and families who depend on them,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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