Seven Democratic senators, led by Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, have accused Donald Trump's administration of worsening the childcare crisis in the United States. In a letter addressed to Alex Adams, assistant secretary of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the senators argue that federal cuts and changes to programmes like Head Start are destabilising the system.
The letter notes that childcare costs increased faster than overall inflation in 2025, with daycare and preschool costs rising by 3.5% in the year to May 2026. The senators state that rising prices for various operational expenses are forcing providers to either increase tuition fees or close. Over 400 daycare centres have reportedly closed in Oklahoma since November, and more than 300 programmes have shut in Indiana since September last year.
The senators also criticised the administration's handling of Head Start, alleging that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unlawfully froze programme funding for grantees shortly after President Trump took office. They also highlighted an ACF decision in January to freeze $2.4bn in Child Care and Development Fund grants for five states, which was later rescinded after legal challenges.
Concerns were also raised about regulatory changes, including the ACF's May decision to rescind Joe Biden-era requirements such as a federal cap on eligible families' childcare co-payments at 7% of income. The senators warn that these changes could increase costs for families and potentially lead to more providers going out of business. They have requested information from the ACF by 14 October on childcare centre closures, cost changes, and the impact of these regulatory adjustments.