{"id":2116,"date":"2026-01-09T18:43:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T23:43:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/childcareforeveryfamily.org\/?post_type=press_releases&p=2116"},"modified":"2026-01-09T18:43:03","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T23:43:03","slug":"icymi-child-care-leaders-parents-providers-host-briefing-on-unsubstantiated-fraud-allegations-trump-administration-attacks-on-child-care","status":"publish","type":"press_releases","link":"https:\/\/childcareforeveryfamily.org\/es\/press-release\/icymi-child-care-leaders-parents-providers-host-briefing-on-unsubstantiated-fraud-allegations-trump-administration-attacks-on-child-care\/","title":{"rendered":"ICYMI: Child Care Leaders, Parents, Providers Host Briefing on Unsubstantiated Fraud Allegations, Trump Administration Attacks on Child Care"},"content":{"rendered":"

WATCH RECORDING<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 In case you missed it, the Child Care for Every Family Network hosted a briefing<\/a> on Wednesday, January 7 with parents, child care providers, and policy experts on the impact of the Trump Administration\u2019s multi-pronged attack on child care based on unsubstantiated fraud allegations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the call, experts outlined how on December 30, 2025, the Trump Administration announced via social media that it would freeze federal child care funding to Minnesota, citing unsubstantiated claims amplified by a single social media influencer. In the days that followed, new reporting revealed that the Administration had expanded this action to California, Colorado, Illinois and New York<\/a>, pausing billions of dollars in child care and related social services funding in these five states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the Administration also introduced so-called \u201cdefend the spend\u201d measures<\/a> that have already caused major delays to additional states<\/a> beyond those impacted by the funding freeze, and imposing new, opaque requirements on states nationwide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andrea Paluso, Co-Director of the Child Care for Every Family Network:<\/strong> \u201cTaken together, these actions represent an unprecedented federal assault on child care \u2013 one that is already creating fear, confusion, and instability for children, families, providers, and state systems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lydia Boerboom, Kids Count on Us Minnesota: <\/strong>\u201cLet me be clear: Fraud is unacceptable, and real cases have been and should continue to be prosecuted. No credible evidence of current, widespread fraud in Minnesota\u2019s child care system has been presented. Because of the reckless and irresponsible actions of Minnesota\u2019s Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth<\/a>, self-appointed \u201cjournalist\u201d vigilantes are now showing up at the homes and workplaces of child care providers \u2013 not only in Minnesota, but in other states as well. This has created an extremely dangerous and destabilizing situation for children and the caregivers entrusted with their safety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christina Valdez, Child Care Provider from Minnesota: <\/strong>\u201cThis morning, federal agents have been in child care center parking lots and circling centers increasing fear. This has also been a pretext for sending ICE agents to Minnesota, who shot and killed someone today (January 7, 2026). We literally save empty paper towel rolls for art projects. If the children we serve lose their tuition assistance, it will destabilize our entire budget, like it will for 4,000 other programs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shazia Khalid, parent from New York and member of MomsRising: <\/strong>\u201cI was horrified when I learned the Trump administration is freezing federal child care funding in five states, including New York. I know these federal funds are a critical part of our child care ecosystem. I\u2019m terrified of what this could mean for my family and for working families in my community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Ruth Friedman, The Century Foundation: <\/strong>\u201cWhat is concerning in reading the letters [from HHS to states regarding the funding freeze]] is that the states very likely don\u2019t have the data being requested on hand because it\u2019s not data that the government has asked them to report previously. So that means that very, very quickly, hundreds of thousands of families across these five states will not have the child care they need, which will have reverberating effects and create chaos. It could be absolutely catastrophic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elliot Haspel, Senior Fellow, Capita: <\/strong>\u201cCutting off funds to Minnesota and other states seems wildly out of proportion to whatever issues might exist. When you take such a giant boulder down the hill in an attempt to solve a problem \u2014 a problem that, quite frankly, there\u2019s not a lot of evidence exists anymore \u2014 you are doing a ton of collateral damage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Read more about the child care funding freeze and other attacks on child care:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Huff Post<\/strong><\/a>: Child Care Providers Raise Alarms About Trump\u2019s Blue-State Funding Freeze<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working parents, child care center operators and their advocates have all reacted with alarm to the Trump administration\u2019s plan to withhold federal child care funding from blue states, warning that low-income families and child care workers will bear the brunt of a political attack.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vox<\/strong><\/a>: How the Minnesota fraud scandal could upend American child care<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The video does not actually provide direct evidence of fraud. State investigators visited the centers Shirley highlighted and found children at all but one, which was not yet open for families.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CNN<\/strong><\/a>: Trump is freezing funds for small but key welfare program. Here\u2019s what TANF does<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not clear why TANF is getting caught up in the administration\u2019s probe into potential fraud in federal child care funding in Minnesota.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minnesota Star Tribune<\/strong><\/a>: Opinion | When ICE comes for our kids\u2019 caregivers, no one is safe<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The staff member who was taken by immigration enforcement greeted my kids by name, wiped tears, tied shoes and helped create the stable environment every child deserves.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

New Republic<\/strong><\/a>: Trump\u2019s Childcare Funding Freezes Are Going to Hit All Kids Hard<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The administration added new strings for states to receive funding. This could have ripple effects for all households, not just those with low-income children.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Century Foundation<\/strong><\/a>: Trump\u2019s Child Care Funding Freeze in Five States Could Cost Families $400 Million<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cutting off or slowing child care funding for families will have disastrous impacts for parents, children, the economy, and the labor force.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

###<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Child Care for Every Family Network is the national movement and campaign to transform child care, representing 2,000+ child care providers and early educators, impacted families, state and national organizations, and organizers across the country. Learn more: <\/em>childcareforeveryfamily.org<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WATCH RECORDING WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 In case you missed it, the Child Care for Every Family Network hosted a briefing on Wednesday, January 7 with parents, child care providers, and policy experts on the impact of the Trump Administration\u2019s multi-pronged attack on child care based on unsubstantiated fraud allegations.  In the call, experts outlined how… Continue reading ICYMI: Child Care Leaders, Parents, Providers Host Briefing on Unsubstantiated Fraud Allegations, Trump Administration Attacks on Child Care<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/childcareforeveryfamily.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_releases\/2116"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/childcareforeveryfamily.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press_releases"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/childcareforeveryfamily.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press_releases"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/childcareforeveryfamily.org\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2116"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}