John,

Due to a right-wing YouTube “influencer” making up cases of fraud at day care centers run by Somali immigrants, the Trump administration―without any evidence―yesterday announced their plans to freeze critical funding for child care and other programs to five states¹ along with imposing burdensome reporting requirements on child care programs nationwide.²

Stephanie Schmit, Director of Child Care and Early Education at the Center for Law and Social Policy, issued this statement:³

“It is hard to see this as anything but politically motivated attacks on child care providers and reactions that will punish children and families nationwide. Child care providers of diverse racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds offer critical, culturally competent care that meets the unique needs of the children and families in their communities across the country.” 

Send a message to Congress now and tell them to stop the Trump administration from freezing child care funding nationwide.

Minnesota―where the claims started―receives $185 million in federal funding to subsidize vouchers for 19,000 low-income families for child care. Minnesota is also the first state to have its funding frozen, and the Trump administration has no plans to help the affected families.⁴

Attacks on child care and other services have consequences for everyone involved, including child care facilities and staff along with all the families who rely on those programs. Many child care providers are small family-owned businesses that can’t continue operating without the financial support these subsidies provide. When that funding is frozen in Minnesota or any other state, not only are children missing out on critical socialization and education, but parents miss work, their employers are left in a lurch, and facilities are forced to close.

We must stand up against these racist and xenophobic attacks on child care providers, and all the administration’s attacks on our fragile child care system.⁵

Send a message to Congress today and demand they stop the administration from freezing child care funding to the states.

Thank you for all you do,

Meredith Dodson
Senior Director of Public Policy, CHN Action

¹ Trump administration tells 5 states their child care funds have been frozen
² Trump Administration Rule Raises Child Care Costs Amid Escalating Attacks on Early Educators and Families - National Women's Law Center
³ Child Care Providers Across Many States Attacked by “Influencers”; HHS Response Threatens Access for Children and Families | CLASP
⁴ Minnesota families and child care providers scramble as federal funds hang in balance
⁵ How the Trump Administration has Undermined Child Care and Early Education Programs in 2025

-- DEBORAH'S EMAIL --

John,

Access to reliable child care is critical in the United States and enables millions of parents and guardians―especially mothers―to enter or remain in the workforce. But the Trump administration is threatening to freeze funding for certain states¹ and impose burdensome reporting requirements that our allies describe as “taking a sledgehammer to our already fragile child care system.”²

Trump’s attacks on child care access and workers started nearly one year ago, when his second term began.

On his very first day in office, Trump ended the protected areas policy, thereby greenlighting the presence of ICE agents in child care settings. One week later, the administration temporarily froze federal funding of Head Start and locked providers out of the websites they use to access grants. And Trump’s proposed FY26 budget leveled funding for early education and child care programs (effectively a cut) and proposed eliminating other early childhood education programs altogether.³

We cannot allow these attacks on our children to continue. Send a direct message to Congress demanding they stop the administration from freezing child care funding nationwide.

Attacking early childhood education programs and now threatening to freeze child care funding that subsidizes care for millions of children is a direct attack on families, working parents and caregivers, and stagnates our economy.

It also means states like Wisconsin could see delays on as much as $183.3 million in block grant funding that pays for child care. That could mean 20,000 families who receive child care vouchers would lose that assistance, forcing a parent or guardian to cut back on work hours.⁴ While Wisconsin and other states can tap state or other funds to keep child care operating for a short period, a freeze could lead to some child care centers closing within a month.

Adding unnecessary, burdensome reporting requirements will have serious consequences for millions of families across the country. So far, child care administrators have not been provided specific guidance on what they will be required to do, but providers―and millions of families―are fearful about this threat to this fragile system. Congress must stop this cruel attack against working families.

Join us in calling on Congress to stop the Trump administration from freezing child care funding now.

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, CHN Action

¹ Trump administration to freeze billions in childcare funding in five states
² Trump Administration Rule Raises Child Care Costs Amid Escalating Attacks on Early Educators and Families - National Women's Law Center
³ How the Trump Administration has Undermined Child Care and Early Education Programs in 2025
⁴ Wisconsin child care providers await federal funding freeze that could cause closures