Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza has expressed support for a lawsuit filed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and attorneys general from four other states. The legal action seeks to prevent the Trump Administration from withholding $1 billion in federal funds that Congress allocated for food, housing, and childcare programs benefiting Illinois families.
In a press release from the Illinois Office of Comptroller, Mendoza stated, “I applaud Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and attorneys general in four other states for filing a lawsuit to stop the Trump Administration from blocking the $1 billion that Congress has authorized for food, safe housing and childcare for Illinois families. The power of the purse lies in the hands of Congress, not the executive branch.”
President Donald Trump cited concerns about “potential fraud” as his reason for stopping distribution of these funds, according to the press release. However, he later indicated that the decision was related to certain states having Democratic governors.
“If he comes with actual evidence of fraud, I will join the effort to block funding from any vendor misspending taxpayer money. But as the lawsuit spells out, this is just a ‘shoot first and ask questions later’ pretext to punish children in states with Democratic governors,” Mendoza said.
She noted that Congress approved these funds for all 50 states to help low-income working parents achieve economic self-sufficiency. Mendoza added, “The Trump Administration says it wants people to get off the public dole but is taking away services that are helping Illinoisans do just that.”
According to Mendoza, childcare providers and social service agencies across Illinois have contacted her office daily expressing concern about how they can continue serving children and vulnerable residents amid uncertainty over funding.
“I pray Attorney General Raoul and his counterparts in other affected states are successful in protecting our children,” she concluded.
