Appropriations FY2027

State
of Play

What’s Happening

Congress is currently determining funding levels for essential federal child care and early learning programs, including:

• Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG): The largest source of federal funding for child care. Congress sets funding levels; states have flexibility in how funds support families and providers in their communities.  
• Early Head Start/Head Start: Delivers comprehensive early learning, health, nutrition, and family support services for eligible children and their families.  
• Preschool Development Grant Birth through Five (PDG B-5): Help states strengthen, align, and expand their early learning systems. 

Recent Movement

June 5: The House Appropriations Committee approved the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) bill, advancing it out of committee. The bill still must be passed by the full House before moving forward.

June 4: The House Labor-H Subcommittee released its FY27 funding proposal, including:

• CCDBG: $10 million increase, for a total of $8.8 billion
• Early Head Start/Head Start: $10 million increase, for a total of $12.3 billion
• PDG B-5: Eliminated

The Senate is expected to consider its own Labor-H appropriations process, including committee and potential floor action on its FY27 proposal. The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee is also developing and expected to release its own FY27 proposal.

The Ask

In a letter, the child care community has asked Appropriators for these funding levels in FY27: 

• 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

By the Numbers

Federal funding creates the foundation for child care and early learning in the United States. 

•  $31.30 billion: Annual federal funding (mandatory and discretionary) for child care and early learning programs.
• $15.36 billion: Annual state match spending for child care and early learning programs.

In a 2026 nationwide poll, voters across the political spectrum strongly support federal funding for child care and early learning. Nearly three out of four voters (74%) say federal funding for child care and early learning is a good use of tax dollars, including: 

• 53% of Republicans
• 77% of Independents
• 93% of Democrats.

2026 TIMELINE

• 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.