Brian Mann

Brian Mann, NPR News.

Good morning, Michelle.

Yeah, Nazrullah Mohammed spoke at a press conference at the Nokomis Daycare Center where he works in Minneapolis.

And he said there's been a break-in, there's been vandalism, and some people in the community are scared.

Muhammad says sensitive documents have been stolen.

After that press conference on Wednesday, President Trump posted on social media calling Muhammad's account of the break-in a total fraud.

As this situation unfolded, Trump has again attacked Somali Americans in Minnesota, calling them, and I'm quoting here, Michelle, low-lifes.

Yeah, the day after Christmas, Nick Shirley, a 23-year-old MAGA-connected social media influencer, posted a video.

He claims it shows Somali-American-run daycare centers are cheating the federal government out of millions of tax dollars.

The video doesn't offer clear proof, and it appears these social media claims have not yet been independently investigated or verified.

But the video went viral.

A lot of conservative media outlets jumped on the story.

and so did Trump on his social media feed.

So now the Trump administration is halting funding for child care programs around the country.

Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill spoke in a video posted online.

He said child care funds will be released only when states prove they're being spent legitimately.

Now, this disruption is going to affect hundreds of thousands of children, especially in low-income families in all 50 states.

O'Neill says he took this action based on what he describes as intrepid journalists making shocking and credible allegations.

NPR asked the Department of Health and Human Services press office.

if they have concrete evidence of serious or widespread wrongdoing, but we've had no response.