Hundreds of thousands of children eligible for childcare assistance are waiting for help in 23 states and the District of Columbia, according to a recent analysis by The Associated Press. In three additional states, many eligible families who applied were denied assistance. Childcare assistance is a federal program, supported by states, aimed at helping low-income families, homeless individuals, and those caring for foster children. However, the number of people on waitlists has grown sharply since 2023, when only eight states had them. This increase is linked to the end of $28 billion in federal pandemic aid in the fall of 2024, which was not extended by the Republican-led Congress. The loss of this funding, combined with rising living costs for food and gas, has led to a surge in demand for childcare assistance that outpaces available resources. As a result, many parents are unable to work or attend school because they cannot afford childcare. Some have described skipping essential needs, falling behind on bills, or relying on friends or family to watch their children. In Minnesota, Deaira Gresham, a single mother and student, has had to bring her 1-year-old daughter to class and work appointments because the child has been on a waitlist for childcare assistance since birth. Gresham had some help from her mother but struggled to balance her responsibilities, ultimately failing several classes before she received a childcare grant for parenting students. In Indiana, the waitlist for childcare assistance began in December 2024, after pandemic aid expired and the state struggled to support existing program participants. By spring 2026, nearly 37,000 children were waiting for help. Malinda Cox, an Indianapolis mother who took in a newborn last year, had to use her family’s savings to pay for childcare so she could return to work. At one point, she considered giving up custody of the child because the family couldn’t afford the childcare costs. Meanwhile, the boy’s biological mother was working to meet requirements to take him home, but she couldn’t afford daycare. Eventually, the mother received a voucher for assistance, allowing the child to return home. In response to the crisis, Indiana Governor Mike Braun announced a $200 million investment from the state’s surplus to help move 8,000 children off the waitlist. However, experts note that even before the current waitlist growth, federal funding has consistently fallen short of meeting all needs. Many eligible families are unaware of the program or are deterred by the long waitlists. Ruth Friedman, who previously led the federal Office of Child Care, said the system has been broken for decades, with childcare seen as a family responsibility rather than a public need. While some lawmakers advocate for more funding, the program has not received additional money this year, and President Donald Trump has suggested that states, not the federal government, should bear the cost.