Budget and Appropriations
Child care is an essential part of life for millions of families with young children, yet it can be difficult to find and afford.
Federal support for early learning and care helps change that—giving young children vital opportunities to learn and grow while also strengthening family finances, supporting a thriving workforce, and fueling our economy.
Each year, Congress sets funding levels through the appropriations process, which serves as the backbone for early learning and care in every state. These decisions directly shape the options available to families by supporting programs like CCDBG, Head Start and Early Head Start, PDG B-5, and others. Together, these investments make a meaningful difference for children, families, and employers in every state and congressional district across the country.
This long-standing, bipartisan commitment has helped build and sustain child care systems nationwide, but there is more work to do. Today, funding reaches only a portion of eligible families, leaving many without access to the care they need. By protecting and prioritizing these investments and continuing to build on them, Congress can help ensure more families and young children benefit from the care they rely on.
Current
Status
Learn more on the FFYF FY2027 featured priority page.
- June 5: The House Appropriations Committee approved the Labor-H bill. See all proposed funding levels for child care and early learning programs here.
- June 4: The House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) Appropriations Subcommittee released its FY2027 funding proposal, including:
- Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG): $10 million increase at $8.8 billion;
- Early Head Start/Head Start: $10 million increase at $12.3 billion;
- Preschool Development Grants Birth through Five (PDG B-5): Eliminated.
- April 20: Democratic Senators submit a Dear Colleague letter in support of federal funding for child care and early learning programs.
- April 3: White House Budget Proposal released.
- March 27: Deadline for House Dear Colleague letters in support of FY27 child care and early learning funding. Note: The FY27 Dear Colleague letters showed record levels of support for federal child care and early learning programs.
- March 25: 89 National and State organizations submit a letter to Appropriators in support of federal funding for child care and early learning including:
- CCDBG: Increase of at least $3.57 billion, for a total of at least $12.4 billion
- Early Head Start/Head Start:Increase of at least $1.91 billion for a total of at least $14.27 billion
- PDG B-5: At least $315 million
- March 17: FFYF’s hosts “FFYF’s ABCs of Federal Early Learning” briefing on the Hill for Members and staff.
- What’s Next
- Floor vote on House Labor-H proposal
- Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee releases its proposal.
- September 30: End of the Fiscal Year. Congress must pass a spending package by midnight, a temporary “Continuing Resolution” to buy more time to pass a package, or face a government shutdown.
