Several civil rights organizations have filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over the agency's failure to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request.
The legal action seeks records concerning Trump administration restrictions on federal childcare and family assistance programs.
These restrictions followed unsubstantiated claims of fraud targeting Somali childcare providers and Democratic state officials.
The coalition of plaintiffs includes the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Illinois, the ACLU of Colorado, the National Women’s Law Center, and the National Center for Law and Economic Justice.
The plaintiffs are seeking communications between federal officials and far-right social media influencer Nick Shirley.
His December 2025 YouTube video alleged widespread fraud at Minnesota childcare centers without offering concrete evidence.
The video went viral after being amplified by Elon Musk on X. Senior Trump administration officials cited it as justification for freezing billions in social services funding.
When questioned by reporters regarding the validity of his claims, Shirley defended his video production.
Journalists and state investigators later visited the facilities and confirmed normal operations, debunking the allegations.
In January 2026, the federal government froze over $10 billion in funding across three programs: the Child Care and Development Fund, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and the Social Service Block Grant.
Five affected states sued to block the funding freeze, leading a federal judge to halt the restrictions on January 9.
The administration moved to resolve the litigation in July 2026.
Linda Morris, an attorney representing the civil rights coalition, emphasized that the new lawsuit aims to uncover the true motivations behind the funding restrictions.
“This lawsuit is really about demanding transparency and accountability from this administration, and really understanding what the true justifications for these attacks,” said Morris, senior staff attorney at the ACLU Women’s Rights Project.
The plaintiffs allege that the administration's actions caused widespread panic among families and significant delays in essential childcare funding.
“These attacks on childcare programs are fueled by racist rhetoric, including anti-Somali and anti-immigrant bias, and they’re also motivated by the administration’s desire to attack its political opponents,” Morris added.
Neither the White House nor HHS immediately issued a statement regarding the pending legal action.
