What the October 2025 Government Shutdown Means for Child Care Professionals and Families
10/01/25
Update: October 17, 2025
The government shutdown has now entered its third week, with no deal yet to fund federal operations. Here’s what’s new:
- No funding resolution in sight: The Senate again failed to advance a key defense bill this week, signaling no quick end to the shutdown. Read coverage from CBS News.
- WIC remains vulnerable: Because the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is funded through annual appropriations, states are warning of potential funding shortfalls if the shutdown continues. Learn more from FRAC.
- October SNAP benefits were distributed, but several states — including Ohio — have warned of possible processing or reimbursement delays if the shutdown drags on. The Franklin County Board of Commissioners recently held a press conference highlighting SNAP benefit reductions in H.R.1 (Passed July 1, 2025) that affect more than 4,000 refugee residents, including children, seniors, and survivors of violence. Commissioners emphasized the urgent need for collaboration and local food assistance to offset these losses. Watch coverage from 10TV.
- Head Start programs nearing a funding cliff: Six Head Start programs nationwide — serving around 6,500 children — are already operating without federal funds. By November 1, another 134 programs serving 58,600 children could face closures if no agreement is reached. In Ohio, seven Head Start programs are depending on November fund disbursements to stay open. Read more from the National Head Start Association.
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As of 12:01 AM on October 1, 2025, the federal government has officially shut down after Congress failed to pass a budget or continuing resolution to fund operations into the new fiscal year. While this situation is stressful for many Americans, it has specific implications for those working in child care, early education nonprofits, and the families they serve.
We know that government shutdowns raise immediate concerns about how child care programs will operate — especially when so many families rely on state and federal subsidies to afford care. Although the full impact will depend on how long the shutdown lasts, here’s what we know right now:
Not All Federal Child Care Funding Stops During a Shutdown
Fortunately, many of the largest funding streams that support child care are structured in ways that protect them from shutdown disruptions, at least in the short term.
- The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), which authorizes the broader Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), is forward-funded. That means funds for fiscal year 2025 were appropriated last year, so most states already have this money in place and can continue using it for child care assistance during the shutdown.
- The mandatory and matching portions of CCDF also continue, since they’re classified as mandatory spending, not subject to annual appropriations in the same way as discretionary programs.
That’s reassuring news for many professionals who depend on these payments to stay open and staffed.
Programs Like PFCC and Other Contract Models Face Uncertainty
On the other hand, programs that rely on more recent or discretionary funding sources may face more difficulty.
- Publicly Funded Child Care Contracts (PFCC) and similar payment models that depend on state-federal partnerships may experience delays if states are unable to front federal payments during the shutdown period.
This uncertainty can make planning difficult for Headstart programs and PFCC providers, especially those serving low-income families or rural areas.
What Child Care Professionals and Advocates Can Do
While this shutdown won’t bring child care programs to an immediate halt, it does highlight how fragile the sector can become when funding is uncertain.
To support child care during this time, here are a few steps to consider:
- Reach out to policymakers to share how federal child care funding supports your work and the families you serve.
- Use tools like Child Care Aware’s Action Center to advocate for urgent funding.
- Stay connected with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) to understand how they are managing federal program continuity.
- Document any delays or impacts you experience due to the shutdown — these examples are critical for advocacy efforts. If you run a licensed child care program in central Ohio, we’d love to hear from you so that we can help advocate. Let us know what you’re experiencing by emailing info@actionforchildren.org.
Moving Forward
We recognize that shutdowns are deeply unsettling for federal workers, for parents, and for child care professionals trying to keep doors open and staff paid. The good news is that core child care funding remains relatively stable for now. But the longer this shutdown drags on, the more vulnerable programs — especially smaller nonprofits and home-based care professionals — may become.