Trump Urges States to Raise Taxes for Child Care Funding

President says federal government can't afford to cover child care costs for all 50 states.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:09pm

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A serene, cinematic painting depicting a solitary government building or political figure in a warm, golden light, conveying a sense of contemplation and the weight of political decisions.The president's proposal to shift child care funding to the states raises questions about the federal government's role in supporting families.NYC Today

President Donald Trump has suggested that states should raise taxes to pay for child care, arguing that the federal government cannot afford to fund child care for all 50 states. Trump said 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

This proposal represents a shift in the federal government's role in providing child care assistance, potentially placing a greater financial burden on states and families. It comes as some states, like New Mexico, have found ways to fund universal child care, while others have struggled to provide affordable options.

The details

Trump said the federal government spends around $30 billion per year on child care, and 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. New Mexico is the only state to offer universal child care, using oil and gas revenue, while other states like California, Texas, Florida and New York have faced barriers to providing affordable options due to their large populations.

  • On April 3, 2026, President 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 suggesting states should 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, 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, President

What’s next

It remains to be seen whether Trump's proposal will gain traction, as states and local governments continue to grapple with the challenge of providing affordable child care options for families.

The takeaway

This proposal represents a significant shift in the federal government's role in supporting child care, potentially placing a greater financial burden on states and families. It highlights the ongoing debate over the appropriate balance between federal and state responsibilities in addressing critical social issues like access to affordable child care.