Press Releases

Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Ranking Member Danny K. Davis (D-IL) sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) began illegally blocking states from accessing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) grant funds to which they are entitled to under the law. TANF provides critical support for families in need, child care, work supports for parents, and foster care for abused and neglected children. At a time when Trump and Republicans’ economic destruction is making it harder for families to make ends meet, the Administration is doubling down by withholding a financial lifeline for vulnerable children and their families.

Under the new Payment Management System, states have been unable to access funds authorized by Congress and instead are receiving a cryptic message from an unknown source identified only as “DOGE Defend the Spend.” The message asks for a “payment justification,” and provides an unrecognized link to provide it. Federal law specifically prohibits requiring states to provide information not specified in the law to the federal government in order to access TANF funds.

“We demand that you immediately reverse this illegal action,” the lawmakers wrote. “The unauthorized message appears to be delaying legally required funding in order to request information which has already been provided by states and is publicly available.”

The lawmakers noted that Section 417 of the Social Security Act, which specifically prohibits HHS from requiring information beyond what is provided in the state plans approved by the Secretary was in fact extended without change by Congress and signed into law by President Trump in March 2025.

The Ranking Members concluded, “Section 405 of the Social Security Act provides that the Secretary of HHS shall pay states the TANF funds they are entitled to on a quarterly basis. The timing is not discretionary.” 

In their letter, the Democratic leaders demanded Secretary Kennedy confirm that access to legally-appropriated funding has been restored within five business days and demanded answers to the Ways and Means Committee as to who approved the withholding of funds, information as to which programs in the payment system were under review, detailed plans that HHS has for providing assistance to states when they have questions about the new Payment Management System and complying with federal law, amongst other important questions the American people deserve answers to about their assistance and private data.

Read the full letter to Secretary Kennedy HERE.