Six Democratic senators have accused Donald Trump’s administration of exacerbating the nation’s childcare crisis, warning that rising costs and daycare closures are leaving families with fewer affordable options.
Letter to ACF
In a letter addressed to Alex Adams, assistant secretary of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), senators led by Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts argue that federal cuts and changes to childcare programs like Head Start are destabilizing an already fragile system. The letter highlights that childcare costs rose faster than overall inflation in 2025, with daycare and preschool costs increasing by 3.5% in the year leading up to May 2026.
““American families face skyrocketing child care costs,” the senators write, asserting that rising prices for food, supplies, insurance, rent, and utilities are forcing providers to choose between increasing tuition fees and closing.
Daycare Closures
The letter states that more than 400 daycare centers have closed in Oklahoma since November, while over 300 programs have shut down in Indiana since September of the previous year. The senators also criticize the administration’s handling of Head Start, the federal program providing early education and other services to low-income children.
Funding Issues
The letter claims that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unlawfully froze program funding for grantees shortly after President Trump took office, which forced some Head Start programs to temporarily close and left thousands of vulnerable families uncertain about their childcare options. It also notes that funding was withheld from grantees until they complied with the administration’s strict requirements.
