INDIANAPOLIS—Thousands of Indiana families woke up to devastating news: state leaders are slashing funding for child care, cutting reimbursement rates for providers by up to 35%. These cuts will force centers to shut down, parents to stay home from work and kids to lose the care they rely on.

And the same leaders responsible for this decision are now floating the idea of a $250,000 special legislative session. Not to fix child care. Not to help working families. But to cheat and rig congressional maps at the request of Donald Trump.

“Let’s get this straight. They refused to fully fund child care during the regular session when parents and businesses were saying they needed more help. Now they’re intentionally causing the system to collapse while entertaining a Trump-backed special session that could cost $33,000 a day. If that’s what they think helping Hoosiers looks like, then we’ve got a real problem,” said Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington).

Today’s announcement from the Family and Social Services Administration slashes payments to providers through the Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) by:

  • 10% for infants and toddlers
  • 15% for preschool-aged children
  • 35% for school-aged children

The CCDF program currently helps more than 55,000 children. But with providers already stretched thin after Republicans cut On My Way Pre-k in half and capped CCDF enrollment from last year still in place, these cuts are expected to force many to drop out of the system entirely. That means fewer child care options, longer waitlists and higher costs for working families.

“This isn’t just bad policy. It’s a direct hit to the families doing everything right. They’re working, paying taxes, raising kids – and this is the thanks they get,” Yoder said.

Senate Democrats fought to prevent this. During the 2025 legislative session, they proposed funding solutions to keep the program afloat and filed an amendment to protect providers. Republican leadership refused to act.

“They didn’t just let this happen. They made it happen. The math doesn’t lie. They’ve got the money when it comes to universal private school vouchers or tax breaks or helicopter pads. But child care? Suddenly it’s ‘unsustainable,’” Yoder said.

The contrast is clear. In just the past year, the Republican supermajority has:

  • Approved $500 million in private school vouchers for families who don’t need the help
  • Handed out tax breaks to corporations struggling to keep employees because there’s no child care
  • Funded a helipad at the Governor’s mansion
  • And now, is considering the expense of a special session to help Donald Trump cheat and rig Indiana’s congressional map mid-decade

“This is the same playbook we’ve seen for 20 years. Starve programs for hard-working families. Help your wealthy friends. And when your policies stop working, change the rules to stay in power. That’s not governing. That’s cheating,” Yoder said.

Senate Democrats are demanding immediate action:

  • Reverse the CCDF reimbursement cuts
  • Fully fund the child care system families depend on
  • And reject any attempt to use taxpayer dollars on a Trump-driven special session

“If Indiana Republicans move forward with a special session while families are losing child care, they are telling every Hoosier exactly who they serve. And it’s not you,” Yoder said.