Public Comments Highlight Risks of Weakening Child Care Affordability

In January 2026, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) proposed changes to the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) regulations that would roll back key provisions of the 2024 final rule designed to improve child care affordability, payment stability for providers, and access for families with low incomes.

In response, New America’s Early & Elementary Education team submitted public comments opposing the proposed changes and warning that rescinding protections such as the 7 percent family co-payment cap and enrollment-based provider payments would increase costs for families, destabilize child care providers, and undermine access to care—particularly for small providers and families with multiple children.