Judge says Trump Administration must keep funding child care subsidies in 5 states for now (1/23/2026)
UPDATE: Child Care Aware® of America on Potential Child Care Funding Freeze and Reports of Fraud (1/13/2026)
Video: A Statement from CEO Susan Gale Perry on the Current CCDF Federal Funding Freeze (1/9/2026)
Safeguarding Access to Affordable Child Care (1/12/2026)
Trump administration can’t block child care, other program money for 5 states: Judge (1/9/2026)
From Kim Johnson (1/9/2026):
“The Trump administration has taken another unprecedented, politically motivated, cruel and harmful step in assaulting Californians in need. Freezing critical funding streams for child care, family assistance programs, and essential services that Californians depend on every single day is a direct threat to our economic stability and social fabric.
“For families, these programs represent more than assistance. They are pathways to stability and opportunity. They allow parents to pursue education and employment. Family assistance programs provide the basic necessities that keep children fed, housed, and safe. When we withdraw this support, we don’t just harm families today. We condemn another generation to the cycles of poverty we have worked so hard to disrupt. The Trump administration’s actions undermine years of historic state investment, progress, and research showing that early intervention and family stability are the most effective tools we have to ensure children can rise above the circumstances of their birth.
“And make no mistake: these funding streams are foundational to critical infrastructure. They enable parents to work, businesses to maintain their workforce, and our state’s economy to function.
“The programs targeted by this freeze are not partisan issues, they are human issues. They reflect our shared values of opportunity, dignity, and compassion. California will continue to fight for the resources our families, older adults, and people living with disabilities need to thrive and advance.
“California holds itself to the highest standards of accountability and program integrity. We investigate and prosecute fraud to protect taxpayer dollars and ensure these critical programs serve the people they are intended to help. California will not allow these attacks to dismantle programs that are responsibly managed and successfully disrupting poverty across our state.”
California is taking action; by joining other impacted states in filing a lawsuit and seeking immediate relief from the Trump Administration for its unlawful freeze of federal funding for child care and family assistance programs.
From Kelly Graesch:
On January 6, 2026, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a letter to Governor Gavin Newsom regarding a temporary restriction to California drawing down funds from the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF).
While we are not currently aware of any funding disruptions, the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network is deeply concerned about the federal government’s recent actions that may impact child care funding.
As an ally and steadfast supporter of families, child care providers, and agencies that administer child care funds, we understand the uncertainty this situation may create. We are committed to standing alongside the families who rely on these services and the child care providers who dedicate themselves to caring for California's children every day.
The California Child Care Resource & Referral Network will continue to monitor this situation, working with partners and state/national leaders to protect both the integrity of child care programs and uninterrupted access for California’s working families.