As the government shutdown drags into its third week, many federal workers in the D.C. region are struggling to cover one of their biggest expenses — child care.
A child development center operated by the Departments of Health and Human Services and Education sits inside a downtown federal building — the same building where up to 1,200 employees received layoff notices this week. Without paychecks, parents are now faced with tough choices: pulling children from daycare or falling behind on bills.
Some child care centers have even reduced hours or temporarily closed.
Earlier this year, the General Services Administration office that oversaw about 100 federal child care centers was eliminated, creating more uncertainty for families who rely on these services.
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To help, a new bill in Congress aims to reimburse eligible federal workers — including those who have been furloughed — for child care expenses during the shutdown.
Lawmakers behind the measure said it would offer critical relief to families struggling to make ends meet.
Child care providers say they’re feeling the strain too. Parents have started pausing payments or withdrawing their children as the shutdown continues.
Jerika Lopez, owner of New Life Child Care near Fort Meade, said she’s already hearing from concerned families.
“So we have had sprinkles of parents here and there asking just what are our procedures if they can’t pay for child care, what is the process. We do have a 30-day notice typically, but I’m sure if we have to accommodate our parents, we are going to have to, I mean, they are not getting income,” Lopez said.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-Washington), one of the lawmakers pushing for more support, said child care remains one of the biggest issues families face.
“Childcare remains one of the top priorities for families that we know of. It’s too hard to find, it’s too hard to get a slot, too expensive,” Murray said. Lawmakers say the bill protects workers from a crisis they didn’t create — but critics argue it’s too costly and that Congress should focus on ending the shutdown itself.