Ohio Families Face Highest Child Care Cost Increases Under Trump Policy Cut
Ohio families could lose over $15,000 annually in child care assistance following Trump’s elimination of federal cost caps, hitting the state harder than any other.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Ohio families are experiencing the steepest child care cost increases in the nation following the Trump administration’s decision to eliminate federal assistance caps, according to a new analysis released Thursday.
The Center for American Progress study found that Ohio families could lose more than $15,000 per year in child care assistance, nearly $4,000 more than Vermont, the next-hardest hit state. The losses stem from President Donald Trump’s January decision to scrap a 2024 Biden administration rule that capped child care costs for eligible families.
Assistance Program Changes Hit Working Families
The eliminated policy applied to Ohio’s Child Care Development Fund, which provides assistance to families earning up to $77,000 annually for a family of three. Under the Biden rule, families paid no more than 7% of their income toward child care costs.
Without that protection, some eligible Ohio families now pay as much as 27% of their income on daycare, researchers found. For a maximum-earning family of three, monthly costs have jumped from $452 under the Biden cap to $1,700 without it.
“It shifts more of the cost burden to families already paying at the top end of their budget,” said Hailey Gibbs, co-author of the study. “That is particularly pronounced for folks in Ohio. Families everywhere are facing an affordability crisis.”
Broader Cuts Target Social Programs
The child care assistance elimination is one of several cuts Republicans have implemented to social programs since Trump returned to office in January 2025. The administration has also reduced funding for Medicaid and food assistance programs.
Child care advocates worry the cuts could prevent students from accessing developmental therapy and educational services that directly affect learning outcomes. The changes particularly impact families who qualify for assistance but earn too much for other safety net programs.
Financial Impact on Ohio Households
The analysis shows Ohio’s disproportionate impact compared to other states in child care cost increases. For working families already stretching budgets to cover basic expenses, the additional thousands in annual child care costs represent a significant financial burden.
The eliminated federal cap had provided relief to moderate-income families who often fall into a coverage gap, earning too much for some assistance programs but struggling to afford market-rate child care. Without the protection, these families must absorb the full cost difference or seek alternative care arrangements.
