Siskiyou County social services warns board of federal letters that could pause welfare and childcare payments to states
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Summary
Social services staff told the Board the federal Administration for Children and Families had sent letters to five states, including California, requesting documents and warning that some federal payments could be withheld; staff flagged privacy and procedural concerns and asked the Board to note potential local impacts.
Mister Barbieri, director of the Social Services Division, told the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors that federal letters sent to five states could put certain federal welfare and childcare payments at risk unless states produce requested documentation.
"Defend the Spend is a new program that's initiated by DOGE, the government or Department of Government Efficiency, and it requires Federal agencies to manually review and approve requests for Federal funding," Barbieri said, describing the July–January correspondence the county received. He said the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) cited concerns and asked the five states for documentation and justification before releasing payments. "For California, the potential loss is $5,000,000,000," Barbieri said.
Barbieri told the Board the letters demanded extensive records — including personally identifiable information — and set tight time frames. "The letters requested that the states turn over essentially every document that's been associated with the state's implementation of the federal programs," he said, adding the letters requested participant names and Social Security numbers dating back to 2022.
Barbieri also said the letters, as presented to the county, did not identify specific statutory noncompliance or the corrective steps required before withholding payments. He cited the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) process and said federal oversight typically proceeds via audits and reviews. Barbieri identified the programs affected as TANF (cash assistance), CCDF (child care), and SSBG (Social Services Block Grant).
Barbieri framed the letters as raising two tensions: the need for program integrity and the potential burden on states and counties to turn over sensitive participant information quickly. He asked the Board to note the potential exposure and signaled staff would return with recommended actions or follow-up steps.
Kirk Hendricks, identified as a deputy, said he would continue the update and take the discussion from Barbieri.
The Board did not take formal action on the briefing during the recorded segments; staff indicated they would return with further information and potential next steps.