What to know about restrictions on state use of money for child care and other social services

By GEOFF MULVIHILL, Associated Press

President Donald Trump’s administration has told states that it is restricting some social safety net funds that cover services including child care subsidies and cash assistance and job training for poor families with children.

The administration says the moves are designed to root out fraud as a result of reported problems, but five Democratic-led states are a special focus of its attention, and some of their leaders say children are being harmed for political reasons.

Those five states challenged the freeze in court Thursday, calling it an unconstitutional abuse of power and a “shoot first ask questions later” approach that ignores established government procedures.

Here’s a rundown of where the federal government says money is being withheld and what’s known about the impact.

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