Federal COVID funding cuts for childcare centers, how will it impact parents?

Many childcare centers have relied on federal COVID-19 funding for the past two years to help keep them open and accessible, but now the money has run out.

Daycare centers will be open, but the long-term effects of the federal COVID-19 funding cuts are unknown.

Financial experts say as many as 3.2 million children across the country could lose access to daycare because that federal funding is gone.

Around $24 billion helped subsidize childcare services during the past two years, with childcare providers primarily using that money to stay in business and keep costs down for parents.

Ashley Tatlock, a single mom says her 4-year-old daughter goes to daycare while she has to work and is concerned because she said, without childcare, she cannot work full-time.

“I will have to find another childcare center or possibly have somebody that I might not know watch my child for me,” said Tatlock, “so with this cliff happening, it does take a toll, especially on single parents.”