Skylar Duensing, a Republican running for Illinois’ 6th Congressional District, said President Trump’s decision to freeze billions in federal child care and social services funding is a necessary measure to address widespread waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs.
The Trump administration is freezing more than $10 billion in federal funding for child care and social services programs across the country, including significant amounts for Illinois, over concerns that some benefits were improperly diverted to non-citizens, according to the New York Post. The freeze impacts programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Child Care Development Fund, and the Social Services Block Grant.
“President Trump’s decision to freeze federal aid is a necessary step to combat rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in government,” Duensing told South Cook News. “The President’s freeze targets programs identified as being vulnerable to fraudulent activities.
Federal authorities have formally requested detailed recipient records from Illinois dating back to 2019 as part of an investigation into potential misuse of social services funding. While governors in other Democratic-led states publicly condemned the freeze as politically motivated, Illinois officials had not issued a public statement at that time, according to the New York Post.
U.S. Judge Arun Subramanian of the Southern District of New York entered a temporary restraining order Jan. 9 against the administration’s freeze on federal child care and family assistance funds for low-income families in Illinois, according to USA Today. The ruling followed a lawsuit brought by Illinois, California, Colorado, Minnesota, and New York against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services after the funds were withheld.
A federal judge on Feb. 6 invalidated the Trump administration’s $10 billion freeze on child care and family planning funding 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 mandating the administration restore access to the affected funds. The administration had raised fraud allegations but put forward no evidence to substantiate them. The injunction remains in place until a final ruling on the freeze’s legality is issued.
Duensing acknowledged that freezing funds could cause short-term disruptions, but he emphasized the importance of accountability.
“While these frozen funds may cause short-term disruptions, taxpayer funds must be used appropriately and accurately to ensure that those truly in need receive the assistance they require,” he said.
The funding freeze follows reports that Minnesota’s social-services system was exploited through what federal prosecutors described as “industrial-scale fraud,” involving fraudulent nonprofits and businesses billing the state for services that were never delivered. Investigators estimate the theft may total as much as $9 billion since 2018, making it one of the largest public-benefit fraud schemes in U.S. history, according to the New York Post.
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.
Duensing said the recent scandals in Minnesota serve as a cautionary example of what can happen when federal funds are mismanaged.
“After witnessing the massive scandals in Minnesota, which exposed how billions in taxpayer dollars were wrongfully allocated, it is important for states and the federal government to audit the use of taxpayer funding,” Duensing said. “What is of even greater concern is where all this is happening nationally. Minnesota’s fraudulent programs are representative of a much larger national issue of wasteful spending and even money laundering.”
As additional details surfaced—including a viral video from independent journalist Nick Shirley showing largely empty, state-funded childcare centers receiving millions in payments—Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz abruptly suspended his re-election campaign. Republicans cited the developments as evidence of failures in accountability under his leadership, according to Minnesota State Wire.
President Donald Trump commented on the Minnesota situation, saying it exposed widespread 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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!”
Duensing said he is concerned that Democratic leadership in Illinois and other states has allowed taxpayer dollars to be mismanaged and spent without sufficient oversight.
“JB Pritzker, Tim Walz, and the majority of Democrats seek to expand government and increase slush fund spending, leaving taxpayer dollars to be spent unchecked and, as we have now seen, often fraudulently,” he said. “This alliance within the Democrat Party shows just how out of touch the Left has become with the American taxpayer.”
Just over a year ago, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker praised Walz after Vice President Kamala Harris selected 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 added, “We hit it off immediately. We have each other’s cell phone numbers. We talk to each other on a fairly frequent basis,” according to ABC7 Chicago.
Duensing said Illinois should take concrete steps to improve accountability and protect taxpayer funds.
“The Illinois legislature would do a great service to the Illinois taxpayer by passing legislation that requires audits of programs to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, providing transparency for taxpayers and sufficient funding for those who require aid,” he said.
In May 2025, Illinois House Republicans, including State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville), said more than $1 billion in taxpayer money was being funneled to politically connected 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 leaner $44 billion state budget, which was ultimately rejected by Pritzker-aligned lawmakers in the General Assembly.
Duensing said Illinois needs targeted reforms to improve oversight and prevent the misuse of federal and state funds.
“In conjunction with audits, the state of Illinois should require beneficiary verification for social services and create a fraud task force with whistleblower protections to investigate NGOs and nonprofits receiving government funding,” Duensing said.
According to the Macon Reporter, Illinois House Republicans cited findings from the Illinois DOGE series showing that over $1 billion in state funds flowed to nonprofits with minimal oversight. Key recipients 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). Additionally, more than $73 million went to local chambers and economic development nonprofits, and racial, ethnic, and religious NGOs received $237 million.
Duensing said he would adopt similar policies at the federal level if elected to Congress.
“As a member of Congress, I will adopt similar policies at the federal level, ensuring transparency, accountability, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars,” he said.
He said his campaign is an alternative focused on fiscal responsibility and prioritizing hardworking Americans.
“While Democrats prioritize radical policies, endless spending, and big government, I will help unleash a Golden Age for America that lowers the national debt, channels jobs, resources, and investment back to America and the state of Illinois, and puts the interests of hardworking Americans first — always,” Duensing said.
Duensing, a Republican, is challenging third-term incumbent Sean Casten (D‑Illinois) for the U.S. House in Illinois’ 6th Congressional District in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Illinois’ 6th Congressional District, in the Chicago suburbs, includes parts of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, and McHenry counties, covering communities such as Crystal Lake, Naperville, St. Charles, Wheaton, and Oakbrook Terrace.
