State Rep. Brad Halbrook, a Republican representing Illinois’ 102nd House District, said the state’s leadership is responsible for the Trump administration’s freeze of billions in federal child care and social services funding, not the federal government.
The Trump administration has moved to freeze over $10 billion in federal funding for child care and social services across the U.S., including substantial sums earmarked for Illinois, citing concerns that benefits may have been fraudulently claimed by non-citizens, according to the New York Post. This includes programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Child Care Development Fund, and the Social Services Block Grant.
“The Trump Administration has asked for documentation on how federal money is being spent. They are not getting the information they have requested from the state,” Halbrook told the East Central Reporter. “There is no question that the funding freeze has and will hurt real people in Illinois, but the blame for this does not fall on the federal government — it rests with the Pritzker Administration, who cannot provide documentation to prove our tax dollars are being spent fraudulently.”
Federal officials have formally requested that Illinois provide detailed records of recipients dating back to 2019 as part of an investigation into alleged misappropriation of social service funds. While governors in other Democratic states publicly denounced the freeze as politically motivated, Illinois officials had not commented publicly at the time, according to the New York Post.
Halbrook said Illinois needs stronger oversight to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure that resources reach those in need.
“There is no question we need more oversight in Illinois,” he said. “The people of Illinois need to know their money is being spent wisely. We all agree on the importance of a safety net. Fraud takes these important resources away from the people who need the help and support. We must better police how public money is being spent.”
U.S. Judge Arun Subramanian of the Southern District of New York temporarily blocked the administration’s freeze on federal child care and family assistance funds for low-income families in Illinois on Jan. 9, according to USA Today. Illinois, California, Colorado, Minnesota, and New York had filed suit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after the funding was cut off.
On Feb. 6, a federal judge halted the Trump administration’s $10 billion funding freeze on child care and family planning programs targeting five Democratic-led states, including Illinois, according to ABC7 Chicago. Judge Vernon S. Broderick of the Southern District of New York issued a preliminary injunction directing the administration to reinstate access to the funds. The administration alleged fraud but presented no evidence. The injunction remains in effect pending a final ruling on the freeze’s legality.
The funding halt comes after reports that Minnesota’s social-services system was exploited in what federal prosecutors described as “industrial-scale fraud,” involving fake nonprofits and businesses billing the state for services that were never provided, according to the New York Post. Investigators estimate the scheme may have cost up to $9 billion since 2018, making it one of the largest public-benefit fraud cases in U.S. history.
Suspects allegedly established fraudulent child care fronts, falsifying records, enlisting relatives, and crossing state lines to execute the scheme. The operation has produced 92 defendants and dozens of convictions, with millions allegedly moved offshore or used for luxury purchases.
Following the emergence of new evidence, including a viral video from journalist Nick Shirley showing nearly empty, state-funded childcare centers still receiving millions, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz abruptly halted his re-election bid, according to Minnesota State Wire. Republicans cited this as proof of accountability failures under his leadership.
President Trump commented on the Minnesota case, stating it exposed mismanagement across several states.
“Governor Walz has destroyed the State of Minnesota, but others, like Governor Gavin Newscum, JB Pritzker, and Kathy Hochul, have done, in my opinion, an even more dishonest and incompetent job,” he wrote on Truth Social. “NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!”
Halbrook said the Somali daycare scandal is an example of leadership failures in Minnesota and beyond.
“This is a classic case of the blind leading the blind,” he said. “Show me someone who thinks it is a good idea to put tampons in the boys bathroom and I will show you someone who is unfit to lead. The Somali daycare scandal is either a case of complete incompetence or a case of deliberate corruption. Either scenario is an indication of Tim Walz’s lack of credibility.”
Just over a year prior, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker praised Walz after Vice President Kamala Harris chose him as her running mate, calling him a “proven leader who brings to public service the big heart and hard work of a Midwesterner,” and noted their ongoing communication, according to ABC7 Chicago.
In May 2025, Illinois House Republicans, including Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville), stated that over $1 billion in taxpayer dollars was being routed to politically linked nonprofits. Halbrook described $14 million for the Indo-American Center as “just a drop in the bucket,” according to The Center Square.
Republicans proposed a $44 billion state budget, which was rejected by lawmakers aligned with Pritzker.
Halbrook said transparency is lacking for nonprofits and NGOs that receive state funding.
“There is no transparency since non-profits and NGOs are not held to the same Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) standards as government agencies, so taxpayers are unable to track where their money went,” he said. “Next, the budget includes deliberately vague language so not even lawmakers are able to easily decipher what funding they are approving in appropriations hearings. We need a moratorium on funding NGOs until we have a full investigation into how these dollars are being spent.”
Illinois House Republicans cited the Illinois DOGE series findings showing more than $1 billion in taxpayer funds flowing to nonprofits with minimal oversight. According to the Macon Reporter, key beneficiaries included the Indo-American Center ($25 million), ONE Northside ($1.25 million), the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce ($11.4 million since 2020, including $4 million in FY25), Centro de Trabajadores Unidos ($7 million total), the Black Researchers Collective ($700,000 annually), the Chicago Therapy Collective ($1.5 million in FY24), and TMH Mancave ($750,000). Over $73 million went to local chambers and economic development nonprofits, while racial, ethnic, and religious organizations received $237 million.
Halbrook said legislative hearings and accountability are essential.
“We must hold legislative hearings to get answers on how money is being spent,” he said. “We must demand that the Pritzker Administration comply with the Trump Administration’s demand. We must hold Pritzker accountable because his lack of leadership is hurting real families in Illinois.”
He said Pritzker must answer for the state’s mismanagement.
“It is time for Governor Pritzker to be accountable for his management of our state,” Halbrook said. “The funding freeze is 100 percent his fault. He refuses to provide documentation to give the federal government assurance that there is no fraud and abuse with the money they send to Illinois.”
He said the freeze underscores the importance of Illinois meeting the Trump administration’s requirements for oversight and proper use of federal funds.
“The federal government has every right to demand transparency and accountability,” he said. “The fact that Gov. Pritzker refuses to comply with demands speaks volumes. Only states with a lot of fraud and abuse to hide would refuse to comply with the Trump Administration’s accountability demands.”
Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) is the Republican state representative for Illinois’ 107th District. Born in Pana, he was appointed to the Illinois House in April 2012. Halbrook is a diversified farmer and small business owner and has previously served on the Beef Association Board.
