Trump Administration Considers Child Care Subsidies for Stay-at-Home Parents

The Trump administration is considering a plan to provide child care subsidies to married couples when one parent stays home to care for their children, potentially using federal funds currently designated to support working parents.

The proposal, viewed as a priority for Vice President JD Vance, could redirect money from the federal Child Care and Development Fund, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The fund has a budget of roughly $12 billion and currently helps low- and middle-income working parents, students and parents in job training cover the cost of child care, according to a report by The New York Times.

Under the proposed rules, married couples within certain income limits could qualify for subsidies if one spouse works while the other remains at home to care for the children. The working spouse would be required to work at least 35 hours a week. Families currently receive an average of up to about $9,000 per child annually in assistance.

About 870,000 families currently receive subsidies through the program, with roughly 80% having a single working parent, most of them mothers. The funding currently helps cover child care costs for approximately 1.3 million children.

Family policy experts have warned that expanding eligibility without increasing the overall size of the fund could make it more difficult for current recipients, particularly single parents, to receive assistance. They also say the change could reduce revenue for child care providers and potentially force some facilities to close.

Approximately 225,000 child care providers nationwide rely on subsidy payments, according to estimates cited in discussions surrounding the proposal.

Under the proposed rules, unmarried couples would not qualify if one partner stays home to care for their children. Unemployed single parents would also remain ineligible under the new criteria.

The proposal has not yet been finalized. Following White House approval, it would be released for public comment before any final rule is adopted. If approved, the changes could take effect as early as next year.

The plan has also raised legal concerns among some administration lawyers. Questions include whether providing the benefit only to married couples would be legally defensible and whether making direct payments to individuals could increase the risk of fraud.