The federal government has spent decades helping parents pay someone else to watch their children while they work. Now, the Trump administration is reportedly considering a novel twist: letting some parents use that money to raise their own kids.
According to a report [1] from Gateway Pundit (originally in the NY Times), the administration is drafting a rule that would allow married couples with one stay-at-home parent to receive federal child-care assistance. The money would come from the same federal pot currently helping working parents pay daycare bills.
The program typically provides about $9,000 per child annually and currently helps lower-income parents pay for child care while they work, attend school or receive job training.
Under the proposal, a married couple could qualify if one spouse works at least 35 hours per week while the other stays home with the children.
The proposal is reported to be a priority for Vice President JD Vance. The proposal is still being drafted and could change before being formally released. And unlike most things floating around Washington, this one reportedly wouldn’t require a new law from Congress. Of course, the Democrats will sue. They sue about everything.
Because as it moves forward, Democrats will undoubtedly find something to dislike. Maybe it’ll be unfair to single parents, discriminatory against unmarried couples or an attack on daycare centers. Whatever the complaint, Washington rarely lets a proposal involving Trump, money and traditional families slip by without a fight.