The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is sounding the alarm after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services froze more than $10 billion in federal child care and family assistance funds, a move that disproportionately impacts Black families and women across five states.
On Jan. 6, 2026, the Trump administration blocked access to funding in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York. The freeze targets three major federal programs: the Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and the Social Services Block Grant. Notably, all five states are led by Democratic governors.
CBC Leaders Condemn Freeze as Politically Motivated
The decision immediately drew sharp condemnation from Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke of New York and CBC members, who described the action as politically motivated and harmful to the nation’s most vulnerable communities.
“As the American people continue to urge this administration to lower the cost of living and address the affordability crisis, President Trump remains committed to ignoring these pleas and stripping away critical resources that hardworking families rely on,” Clarke said in a statement. “For Republicans, cruelty is always the point.”
The caucus accused the administration of using federal resources as a political weapon against Democratic-led states while placing women and children at risk.
“Donald Trump is wielding a politically vindictive agenda against blue states across the nation while sacrificing the well-being of women and children in his path of destruction,” the statement continued.
The frozen programs play a central role in helping families afford child care, secure basic needs, and maintain economic stability. Child care providers also rely on the funding to operate, particularly in an industry that already runs on thin margins.
Black women once again bear the damage
CBC members emphasized that the move threatens an entire workforce dominated by women of color.
“Not only are these assistance programs intended to make child care more affordable for families struggling to make ends meet, but they also provide critical stability to the child care economy,” the Congressional Black Caucus statement read. “This loss of funding threatens the foundation of a job sector that operates on slim margins and is supported largely by women of color—specifically Black women.”
Black women make up a disproportionate share of the nation’s child care workforce. The caucus noted that since the start of Trump’s presidency, unemployment rates for Black women have continued to rise, making the funding freeze even more devastating.
“This is yet another example of this administration’s targeted attacks on Black women across the nation,” the statement said. “We must not allow President Trump to use our children as political pawns in his assault on our country’s most vulnerable communities.”
CBC Vows to Fight Freeze, Defend Family Assistance Funds
The caucus pledged to fight the decision and defend the programs families depend on.
“The Congressional Black Caucus condemns President Trump’s recent actions that threaten the livelihoods of hardworking Americans, and we will continue to defend the programs on which they depend most,” Clarke said.
Advocates warn that without swift intervention, the freeze could lead to child care center closures, job losses, and increased hardship for low-income families. For many Black communities already navigating rising costs, housing instability, and healthcare gaps, the move adds another layer of economic pressure.
As the administration faces growing criticism, CBC leaders say the fight is about more than policy. The caucus says it is standing between Black families and political battles they never asked to fight.