As the federal government shutdown enters its third week, it is critical that Congress and the President work now to avert additional harm for children, families, and communities.
Starting Friday, October 24, many of the roughly 2.4 million federal employees will miss their first full paycheck. “Most families in this country cannot afford to miss a paycheck or lose one of the federal programs that helps them make ends meet so they can pay their rent, mortgage, child care, and food bills. Families and children didn’t cause this mess and shouldn’t bear the brunt of it—but every day this shutdown continues that is exactly what is happening,” said Susan Gale Perry, CEO of CCAoA.
This extended shutdown threatens access to critical programs that serve America’s youngest children and families, including Head Start. Six Head Start programs serving 6,525 children are already operating without federal funding, and a further 134 programs serving 58,627 children face a funding cliff by November 1 if the shutdown continues.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, which serves nearly 7 million children and mothers, is especially vulnerable during this shutdown, with states already tapping into emergency funds to keep the program running. Without these programs families struggle to afford basic needs and early childhood programs can’t keep their doors open or pay their teachers.
We urge the President and Congress to act immediately to end the shutdown and support children and families. It’s not just young children and families who are hurt when paychecks don’t show up or child care or food can’t be paid for. Our whole economy takes a hit, and everyone is impacted.
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About Child Care Aware® of America
Child Care Aware® of America (CCAoA) is the only national organization that supports every part of the child care system. Together with an on-the-ground network of Child Care Resource and Referral (CCR&R) organizations working in states and communities, CCAoA advances high-quality, affordable child care and turns a patchwork of resources into a system that works for everyone. Together we make America child care strong—and that makes everyone stronger.
