Trump Plan Could Pay Stay-at-Home Parents $9,000 Per Child
The Trump administration is reportedly developing a plan that could provide federal childcare subsidies to some married families with a stay-at-home parent, raising questions about how the policy could affect children and access to childcare.
According to a report by The New York Times, the proposed policy would use money from the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), a federal programme created to help low- and moderate-income families pay for childcare while parents work or attend school.
Under the proposal, eligible families could receive about $9,000 per child each year. To qualify, parents would reportedly need to be married, have one spouse working at least 35 hours a week and have the other parent staying at home to care for the children. Families would also need to meet income requirements, which vary by state.
Unmarried couples with a stay-at-home parent and non-working single parents would not qualify under the reported plan.
The proposal is being championed by Vice President JD Vance and is part of a broader effort to support families where one parent remains at home to provide childcare.
However, child and family policy experts have raised concerns that redirecting CCDF funds could reduce support available to working families and childcare providers.
About 994,000 families currently receive CCDF assistance, with 35% living below the federal poverty level, according to 2023 data from the US Department of Health and Human Services.
