As of October 1, the federal government shut down after Congress failed to reach a funding agreement for FY26. While the federal programs supporting child care are not expected to have funding or operations impacted for the time being, many other vital programs won’t be able to run as usual. Government shutdowns create real harm for families and communities across the country.  

Even though the child care system faces challenges there are paths forward. Sustainable child care isn’t just possible—it’s achievable, if we act together. Experts discussed these paths forward during a Congressional briefing held by Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) and the Buffet Early Childhood Institute on September 10, 2025 to examine how to use what we have learned to improve the child care system.