In Phoenix, for parents who need to balance work with child-rearing responsibilities but struggle to afford costly child care, federally funded scholarships are proving indispensable. These scholarships, administered via state child care assistance programs, can make the crucial difference between a parent being able to work full-time or not working at all.
However, an increasing number of eligible families are being denied access due to soaring child care costs and the cessation of pandemic-era financial assistance, forcing some families to face the harsh reality of having their scholarships terminated. In states like Arizona, Colorado, and Texas, long waiting lists are a reality for parents seeking aid. Other states, such as Nevada and Oklahoma, have increased copayments for parents or reduced the number of children they serve, as reported by the advocacy group Child Care Aware of America. Meanwhile, Idaho had even stopped enrollment temporarily last year.
Recently, the Trump administration implemented staff layoffs affecting personnel who assisted states with child care assistance program implementation, leaving advocates anxious about the future stability of federal child care initiatives. Ruth Friedman, former director of the Office of Child Care under President Joe Biden, expressed concern, stating that these measures might render child care less secure, more expensive, and harder to find.
Federal funding for child care is witnessing cuts, and part of Trump’s extensive government reductions led to job eliminations in the Office of Child Care, which oversees federal child care subsidies and ensures adherence to safety standards by states. Staff in five out of ten regional offices faced job cuts, alongside additional cuts at the headquarters in Washington.
During the pandemic, acknowledging the essential role of the child care sector in revitalizing the economy, Congress approved a historic $24 billion to help child care providers increase wages, purchase protective equipment like masks and air purifiers, and provide staff training, along with an additional $15 billion for child care assistance scholarships. However, this financial aid expired by September, and Congress did not heed calls from Biden and child care advocates to extend it. Although a few states attempted to sustain the programs through local taxpayer funds, many, including Arizona, phased out special pandemic-era programs like those assisting teachers with child care costs.
Kim Kofron of the Texas-based advocacy group Children at Risk emphasized the existing gap between demand and available funding. Even with parents eager to work, like child care worker Janeth Ibarra in Phoenix, financial barriers remain. Ibarra, who last year paid nothing for child care for her twin sons due to a specialized scholarship, now finds herself waiting for regular state child care assistance due to depleted resources.
In Idaho, legislative decisions in 2023 led to a refusal of pandemic aid, resulting in a pause in applications for child care assistance programs. Upon resumption, more stringent income requirements were implemented. Eligible families now must earn below 130% of the federal poverty line, a decrease from previous thresholds.
During his campaign, Trump vaguely suggested that tariffs could potentially make child care more affordable, mentioning that tariffs could bring in substantial revenue. However, economists caution that tariffs could lead to price surges for other household essentials, significantly impacting family budgets. Advocates express concern over potential child care funding cuts amidst attempts to diminish federal government size.
With costs rising, sustaining child care assistance scholarships becomes increasingly challenging for states. Despite attempts to ease the financial burden on providers, the overarching issues faced by the child care industry persist, as highlighted by Karen Schulman, senior director of child care policy at the National Women’s Law Center.
For families, such as Brooklyn Newman, making financial trade-offs to afford child care remains a strenuous reality. After a divorce, Newman moved into a trailer with her two sons and faced economic struggles. While pandemic-funded scholarships enabled her to manage, their termination forced difficult compromises, including sacrificing evening time with her children to work and sustain their preschool education.
Despite the challenges, Newman witnesses significant growth in her children’s development from preschool experiences, enriching their confidence and social skills. She continues to prioritize their education against all odds, cherishing the invaluable opportunity to see her children thrive.