Federal government releases Missouri child care funding after review

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The federal government has released money for child care providers that had been held pending a closer review, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said Tuesday.

DESE wrote in a social media post that all the subsidy funds that had been delayed have now been received. A DESE spokesperson said the agency had received $20 million from the federal government in the past two days.

The federal Administration for Children and Families held the funds last month and asked for justification for the money after a viral video alleged massive fraud by Somali daycare owners in Minneapolis. The investigation also led President Donald Trump’s administration to suspend $10 billion in federal funds that were supposed to go to five Democratic states, a move that was blocked by a federal judge on Friday. 

DESE said Friday that more than half of state child care providers were affected by the delay.

Child care providers should see payments by Jan. 20, the state says.