Federal Funds to Colorado Paused as a Review is Conducted
- Anne Boswell Taylor
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
By Anne Boswell
Colorado is one of five states getting a special review and federal funding will be temporarily halted during that time.
Otero County Health and Human Services Director Donna Rohde commented that her office received notice of it this week.
"We did get letters from the federal government. Well, we got one um, a couple of months ago regarding snap, and then we got one on the 6th regarding, childcare, and SSBG, which is social services block grant. So childcare, affects all, you know, anybody who's on, on childcare, as well as staff who are working those programs. TANF is temporary assistance to needy families, and then the SSBG funds, adult protective service, some of adult protective services and some of child welfare."
In the letters from Alex Adams, the Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children and Families, it states the reason for the review as follows:
"The Trump Administration has made clear its commitment in rooting our fraud, protecting taxpayer dollars and ensuring program integrity across all federal benefit programs."
Rohde said since those letters arrived they have learned that Colorado is part of a lawsuit and has a temporary restraining order. That hearing is happening today, Friday, January 9th. She furthered her department will know more after the hearing on what to expect.
According to Reuters news service, the reason for the review and audit is the department had reason to believe that fraud or misuse could be occurring in federal programs such as Child Care and Development Funds, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF and the Social Services Block Grant.
The states currently identified are:
Colorado
California
Illinois
Minnesota
New York
The review comes on the heels of an internet investigative journalist's look into daycare and childcare centers in the state of Minnesota. Journalist Nick Shirley's story went viral on the internet and caused a look into practices of using federal funds for childcare in Minnesota.
Rohde said for now there are no changes to benefits as the state has a reserve.
"It is my understanding that Colorado does have some reserves, and so the immediate effect, what we're, what we're telling clients is right now, the benefits are unchanged. Um, there's no change to eligibility, no change to the amount that folks are receiving and folks don't need to do to do anything.
Otero County serves 17 families receiving child care benefits and 70 families, total receiving TANF.
The federal government is reviewing TANF, the social services block grant and childcare right now to make sure that Colorado is meeting all of the federal requirements. Rodhe added they are hopeful that once that review is complete and checks out, the government will release the funding.
We are expecting updates on this story and will update it as we have them. In the meantime, if you have any questions about your benefits, you're encouraged to contact your local office.
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