NY Socialist Pols Demand Free Childcare for Infants to 12-Year-Olds

Proposal would cost taxpayers up to $13 billion annually, double or triple current state funding

Mar. 29, 2026 at 9:57am

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Democratic Socialists of America politicians in New York are now demanding a 'free pre-teen care for all' system statewide, which would cover childcare for kids from 6 weeks old to 12 years old. The estimated cost of this proposal ranges from $8 billion to $13 billion per year - more than double or triple the $4.5 billion that Governor Kathy Hochul has set aside to fund free childcare statewide next fiscal year.

Why it matters

This proposal from the Democratic Socialists represents a significant expansion of the free childcare plans that have been discussed, going far beyond the 3-K and pre-K programs currently offered in New York City. Critics argue the massive price tag would be an unaffordable burden on taxpayers, while proponents see it as a necessary step towards a 'truly universal' childcare system to support working families.

The details

Brooklyn state Sen. Jabari Brisport told fellow Democratic Socialists that the universal childcare system they want would serve children from 6 weeks old up to 12 years old, going beyond what Mayor Zohran Mamdani had campaigned for which was free care for kids 6 weeks to 5 years old. Brisport estimated the cost of the DSA's proposal would range from $8 billion to $13 billion annually - more than double or triple the $4.5 billion that Governor Hochul has set aside to fund free childcare statewide next fiscal year. The city already provides free childcare and preschool from 8:30am to 2:30pm for 3- and 4-year-olds, but the DSA wants a 'truly universal system' that extends through regular business hours to help working parents.

  • Last week, Brisport discussed the DSA's proposal during an NYC DSA 'Tax the Rich' powwow.
  • Governor Hochul has set aside $4.5 billion to fund free childcare statewide next fiscal year.
  • Mayor Mamdani and Governor Hochul announced $73 million to support the first 2,000 seats of NYC's new 2K preschool program for 2-year-olds starting this fall.

The players

Jabari Brisport

Brooklyn state senator and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, who outlined the party's proposal for a universal childcare system covering kids from 6 weeks to 12 years old.

Zohran Mamdani

Mayor of New York City, who has campaigned for free universal childcare for kids 6 weeks to 5 years old.

Kathy Hochul

Governor of New York, who has set aside $4.5 billion to fund free childcare statewide next fiscal year.

Joann Ariola

Republican New York City Councilwoman who criticized the DSA's proposal as an unaffordable burden on taxpayers.

Doug Kellogg

State projects director of the conservative Americans for Tax Reform, who called the DSA's proposal 'duplicative, wasteful, offensive, and unaffordable for taxpayers.'

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What they’re saying

“It is a full day. It does not end in the middle of the day when you're still at work, and . . . at a bare minimum includes $1.2 billion to begin raising pay for the childcare workers.”

— Jabari Brisport, Brooklyn state senator

“Our taxpayers are already burdened enough as it is, and now the DSA wants to basically double the deficit, so they can start their extracurricular indoctrination of the next generation straight from the womb until junior high school.”

— Joann Ariola, New York City Councilwoman

“Only a socialist could push to spend $8 billion-plus on top of the billions Gov. Hochul has already proposed for childcare expansion. And that is piled on [top of] New York's highest-in-the-nation, per-pupil spending for first- through sixth-graders. This is duplicative, wasteful, offensive, and unaffordable for taxpayers. It is radical socialist ideas like this that are fueling the slew of tax hikes proposed in Albany, on everything from crypto and gold to helicopter rides.”

— Doug Kellogg, State projects director, Americans for Tax Reform

What’s next

The state plans to kick in another $425 million in fall 2027 to fund another 12,000 2-K seats for 2-year-olds in New York City.

The takeaway

This proposal from the Democratic Socialists represents a significant expansion of free childcare plans in New York, going far beyond current offerings. While proponents see it as a necessary step towards universal care, critics argue the massive price tag would be an unaffordable burden on taxpayers and fuel further tax hikes.