WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — The Trump administration is considering a rule that would allow some married couples with a stay-at-home parent to receive federal child care subsidies, according to people familiar with the discussions.
The proposal, backed by Vice President JD Vance, would use funding from the Child Care and Development Fund, a federal program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Under current rules, eligible families generally must meet income requirements and have parents who are working or participating in education or job training. Federal rules allow families earning up to 85% of their state’s median income to qualify, although states may set lower limits.
The draft rule would create a category of “parent-based child care,” allowing an eligible married parent to receive assistance to care for their own child while their spouse works, according to reporting on the proposal.
The change could be implemented through federal rulemaking without new legislation from Congress, according to people familiar with the proposal. The administration has not finalized the rule, and its provisions could change.
The proposal would use the existing Child Care and Development Fund rather than establish a separate funding source. Critics have raised concerns that expanding eligibility without additional funding could increase competition for subsidies currently used by working families.
The program currently distributes most assistance through states, which provide subsidies to eligible families or make payments to child care providers.
The proposal reportedly incorporates elements of legislation previously introduced by Marco Rubio while he served in the U.S. Senate and is considered a policy priority for Vance.
The White House, Vance and HHS had not publicly detailed the proposed rule as of the initial report. Any final regulation would establish the eligibility requirements and determine how the new category would operate within the existing child care subsidy program.
