Trump Funding Cuts Threaten NYC's Free Child Care Plans

Mayor Mamdani's campaign promise and Gov. Hochul's statewide initiative face uncertainty due to federal funding threats.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The Trump administration's threat to cut federal funding to New York has put Mayor Zohran Mamdani's key campaign promise of free child care for 2-year-olds in New York City, as well as Gov. Kathy Hochul's pledge of universal and affordable child care across the state, in jeopardy. Although a federal judge has blocked the funding cuts, concerns still remain about the availability of child care programs in the city.

Why it matters

Access to affordable child care is a critical issue for working families in New York City. The potential loss of federal funding could undermine the city and state's efforts to expand child care services and make them more accessible, which could have significant impacts on parents' ability to work and support their families.

The details

The Day Care Council of New York, led by Executive Director Tara Gardner and Chief Policy Officer Gregory Brender, is working to support working families and advocate for continued funding for child care programs in the city. They are closely monitoring the situation and working with local and state officials to ensure that the planned expansions of child care services can move forward despite the federal funding threats.

  • In 2026, Mayor Zohran Mamdani made free child care for 2-year-olds a key campaign promise.
  • In 2026, Gov. Kathy Hochul partnered with Mayor Mamdani to pledge universal and affordable child care across New York state.
  • In 2026, the Trump administration threatened to cut federal funding to New York, putting the child care programs in jeopardy.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

The mayor of New York City who made free child care for 2-year-olds a key campaign promise.

Kathy Hochul

The governor of New York who partnered with Mayor Mamdani to pledge universal and affordable child care across the state.

Tara Gardner

The executive director of the Day Care Council of New York, which is working to support working families and advocate for continued funding for child care programs in the city.

Gregory Brender

The chief policy officer of the Day Care Council of New York, which is working to support working families and advocate for continued funding for child care programs in the city.

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What they’re saying

“Access to affordable child care is a critical issue for working families in New York City. The potential loss of federal funding could undermine the city and state's efforts to expand child care services and make them more accessible, which could have significant impacts on parents' ability to work and support their families.”

— Tara Gardner, Executive Director, Day Care Council of New York

“We are closely monitoring the situation and working with local and state officials to ensure that the planned expansions of child care services can move forward despite the federal funding threats.”

— Gregory Brender, Chief Policy Officer, Day Care Council of New York

What’s next

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration's threat to cut federal funding to New York, but the Day Care Council of New York and local officials are still closely monitoring the situation to ensure that the planned expansions of child care services can move forward.

The takeaway

The potential loss of federal funding for child care programs in New York City and across the state highlights the critical importance of access to affordable child care for working families. The city and state's efforts to expand these services could be significantly undermined, underscoring the need for continued advocacy and support to ensure that all families have access to the child care resources they need.