Trump Officials Dismantle Federal Child Care Office, Jeopardizing Services for Thousands of Families

Thousands of families who rely on affordable, high-quality child care are now facing uncertainty after the Trump administration quietly shut down the federal office that oversaw child-care centers in government buildings.

This decision led to immediate staff layoffs, reduced oversight, and major funding cuts for accreditation. The General Services Administration (GSA), which manages 82 child-care centers serving federal employees, already announced it will no longer require accreditation or cover related costs.

“We’re going to have less accreditation, less standards to follow, potentially lower quality and higher tuition costs,” said a longtime member of the board of directors of a GSA-overseen child-care center, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity in an interview with the Washington Post. “I think it’s an assault on people with small children being able to work.”

Without federal support, these child-care centers are struggling. With fewer resources and less oversight, safety concerns are growing. Worn-out equipment may not be replaced, and potential hazards may go unaddressed. Families could face higher tuition costs while safety and quality decline.

For many working parents, dependable and affordable child care isn’t just convenient—it’s essential. In the greater Washington, DC area, which 26 of the GSA childcare centers serve, the costs of childcare are the highest in the nation. There, the average cost of childcare is $24,000 for an infant—if you can even get a spot. Many families have to wait years. 

Now, with GSA childcare centers closing and quality care becoming more expensive and scarcer, many parents—especially mothers—may be forced to leave their jobs, putting their financial stability at risk and widening gender gaps in the workforce.

The same anonymous GSA employee explained the dilemma: “If people can’t get child care, they’re going to have to quit. In the grand scheme of things, it hits women harder. So by losing that child care, we put working women at a greater disadvantage.”