Federal judge blocks Trump from cutting childcare funds to Democratic states over fraud concerns

The programs include the Child Care and Development Fund, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and the Social Services Block Grant, all of which help needy families.

"Families who rely on childcare and family assistance programs deserve confidence that these resources are used lawfully and for their intended purpose," HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill said in a statement on Tuesday.

The states, which include California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York, argued in court filings that the federal government didn't have the legal right to end the funds and that the new policy is creating "operational chaos" in the states.

In total, the states said they receive more than $10 billion in federal funding for the programs. 

HHS said it had "reason to believe" that the programs were offering funds to people in the country illegally.

Fox News Digital has reached out to HHS for comment.