Trump administration freezes child care funding amid fraud claims: Impacts on families, providers, and politics

January 07, 2026

President Donald Trump’s administration says it’s freezing $185 million in child care funds nationwide this year amid allegations of potential fraud in Minnesota.

State officials say they are continuing to investigate the allegations but have not substantiated them so far.

MPR News guest host Catharine Richert will examine what the funding freeze could mean for children, families, child care providers and Minnesota politics.

 

Listen to the whole episode online.