Campus Child Care Grants Shrink Under Trump Administration
Fewer federal grants for campus child care are forcing some low-income students to quit or reduce their course loads.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Child Care
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The Trump administration has awarded fewer federal grants for campus child care programs, and some students have quit or reduced their course loads as a result. Larissa Saucillo, 33, had been making progress toward becoming a nurse and had secured a slot for her 5-year-old daughter in the college's evening child care program.
Why it matters
Federal grants for campus child care help low-income parents remain enrolled in college while raising young children. Reduced funding puts that support at risk and can push students out of degree programs.
The available reporting cites individual cases rather than system-wide totals, with Saucillo's 5-year-old daughter's slot in an evening program illustrating the scope of the issue. Neither the number of grants cut nor the number of students affected has been quantified in the source material.
The players
Larissa Saucillo
A 33-year-old college student and mother of a 5-year-old daughter who was progressing toward becoming a nurse before the grant reductions affected her child care arrangement.
The details
Some low-income college students have quit or reduced their course loads after the administration awarded fewer federal grants for campus child care. The evening child care program that Saucillo relied on is backed by a federal grant for low-income college students with children, and its funding reduction has affected families who depend on it.
Timeline
Start of the current semester: Saucillo was progressing toward nursing and had secured her daughter's evening child care slot.
Season Trajectory
Federal grants for low-income student-parents have historically helped keep them enrolled in degree programs. Reduced awards under the current administration represent a departure from that support, with families like Saucillo's now facing gaps in care.
Student-parents who rely on campus child care may need to adjust course loads or delay degrees if slots become unavailable. Families should check with their college financial aid or student services office about remaining child care options and eligibility.
The takeaway
Reduced campus child care support can turn a single funding decision into a lost semester or a withdrawn degree for a parent. Students facing this should ask their college about remaining child care slots and emergency aid before reducing their enrollment.
Further reading
For related coverage of family support in higher education, see Child Care.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Washington Post.
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Should the federal government increase funding for campus child care for low-income students?
