What to Know About HHS’s Child Care Funding Freeze

The Trump administration is tightening oversight and freezing some funds. Here’s a breakdown of where child care money comes from and how it’s distributed.

Children watch television at ABC Learning Center in Minneapolis on Dec. 31, 2025. Mark Vancleave/AP Photo

Child care providers and families across the nation are facing tighter limits on federal subsidies as the Trump administration responds to concerns about fraud.

The Trump administration’s moves to freeze large swaths of funding have been criticized as hurting families, but the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has emphasized the need for funding integrity.