Trump Says States Must Raise Taxes to Pay for Child Care

The federal government cannot afford to fund child care for all 50 states, according to the former president.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:51pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic painting of an empty government office space, with sunlight streaming in through the windows and casting long shadows across the room, conveying a sense of political uncertainty and the weight of policy decisions.As the federal government grapples with its role in funding child care, states are left to navigate the complex web of policies and financing options on their own.NYC Today

Former President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that states should raise taxes to pay for day care, arguing that the federal government cannot afford to fund child care for all 50 states. Trump stated the federal government's focus should be on 'military protection' while child care, Medicaid, and Medicare should be handled individually by states.

Why it matters

Trump's comments come as some states, like New Mexico, have developed methods to decrease reliance on federal funds for child care, while others like California, Texas, Florida, and New York continue to struggle to provide universal options for families. The issue of funding child care has become a legislative priority for some state and local officials.

The details

The federal government currently spends around $30 billion per year on child care. Trump said the United States 'can't take care of day care' and that it 'has to be up to a state' to fund it, adding that states 'should raise their taxes' to pay for it. He argued the federal government's focus should be on 'military protection' rather than child care, Medicaid, and Medicare, which he said should be handled individually by states.

  • On Wednesday, Trump made the comments during an Easter lunch at the White House.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who made the comments about states needing to raise taxes to pay for child care.

Kathy Hochul

The Democratic governor of New York who has stated that providing affordable child care is a legislative priority.

Zohran Mamdani

The Democratic mayor of New York City who has proposed using a millionaire income tax to subsidize publicly funded child care.

Bernie Sanders

The Independent U.S. senator from Vermont who is backing a wealth tax on billionaires in California that would fund child care and other programs.

Gavin Newsom

The Democratic governor of California who has expressed opposition to Sanders' wealth tax legislation.

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What they’re saying

“'The United States can't take care of day care. That has to be up to a state. We can't take care of day care. We're a big country. We have 50 states. We have all these other people.'”

— Donald Trump, Former President

“'We're fighting wars. We can't take care of day care. You gotta let a state take care of day care, and they should pay for it, too. They should pay. They have to raise their taxes, but they should pay for it. And we could lower our taxes a little bit to make up for it.'”

— Donald Trump, Former President

What’s next

It remains to be seen whether any states will heed Trump's call to raise taxes to fund child care, or if the federal government will continue to play a role in supporting child care programs across the country.

The takeaway

Trump's comments highlight the ongoing debate over the role of the federal government versus states in funding and providing child care services. While some states have found ways to decrease reliance on federal funds, others continue to struggle, making affordable child care a legislative priority for many state and local officials.