Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) was joined by parents, children, and elected officials to demand that the Trump administration unfreeze the grants that provide child care assistance to thousands of families in New York. On Tuesday, the Trump administration froze $10 billion in funding for child care subsidies, social services, and cash support for low-income families in five Democrat-controlled states—including New York. The administration is claiming widespread fraud throughout these states, but it has not provided any evidence of this in New York.
“Investing in child care is investing in New York City’s future,” said Senator Gillibrand. “The Trump administration’s decision to freeze child care grants is a reckless political move that will hit New York families, children, and providers hardest, along with working parents who are already stretched to the breaking point. If these cuts move forward, child care centers across the city could be forced to shut their doors, families will lose the support they depend on to stay in the workforce, and children will pay the price. I will continue working with city and state leaders to hold the administration accountable and fight to reverse this cruel and shortsighted decision.”
“Freezing child care funding means fewer child care slots, lower pay for caregivers, and parents being forced to cut work hours or leave their jobs altogether. This decision is patently unconscionable, full stop, and based on intentionally disingenuous claims that put politics ahead of how this actually impacts millions of Americans. Instead of freezing funding, we should be strengthening CCAP and uplifting an underpaid child care workforce — exactly the kind of support families were promised. I’m grateful for Senator Gillibrand’s leadership, and my Committee and the Legislature will use every tool we have to fight alongside our federal partners and protect New Yorkers,” said Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi, Chair, Committee on Children & Families.
As a new parent, I know how essential affordable, reliable child care is for families. The Trump administration’s decision to freeze those resources is appalling and reckless, if not surprising, and it puts New York’s working parents and young children in the crossfire of a petty political fight,” said Assemblymember Alex Bores. “I am joining my colleagues in demanding that this funding be restored immediately. Aid for children should never be used as leverage. New York families deserve better.
“The White House’s decision to freeze child care funding is unjustified and will directly harm working families across New York. With no evidence of fraud, the Trump administration is choosing to put children at risk, push parents out of the workforce, and disrupt the child care programs families rely on to keep their jobs. Child care is vital economic infrastructure. New York families will pay the price for this decision unless this funding is restored immediately,” said Council Member Virginia Maloney.
Combined, Minnesota, New York, California, Illinois, and Colorado will be cut off from about $10 billion in funding. This money comes from three funding streams: the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, which provides cash assistance to households with children; the Child Care and Development Fund, which supports child care for working parents; and social services grants that benefit at-risk children. In total, New York receives over 3 billion dollars between these funding streams, helping provide care to hundreds of thousands of New York children.
Senator Gillibrand discussed the importance of child care assistance for working parents, especially at a time when child care costs are rising faster than inflation in most states. According to the National Database of Childcare Prices, American families spent 9-16 percent of their median income on full-day care for one child in 2022.
Additionally, child care is proven to improve outcomes for children, workers, and the economy. It gives children vital early learning and socialization, increases labor force participation, and reduces worker absenteeism.
Gillibrand demanded an immediate reversal of the administration’s funding freeze.
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