New York, NY – As the Trump administration moves to freeze or delay vital federal child care funding, New York State Senator Kristen Gonzalez is joining the State Innovation Exchange (SiX), the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), the Child Care for Every Family Network, and more than 200 state lawmakers across the country to demand immediate congressional intervention to protect child care. 

“As state policymakers from across the country, many of whom are parents and/or former early educators, we are horrified by the administration’s freezing of child care, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) funds in five states and its unjustified implementation of so-called ‘Defend the Spend’ measures making it harder for all 50 states to access child care funds,” the state lawmakers wrote in a letter to members of Congress. 

Read the full letter here. 

The letter comes amid escalating tensions between civilians and law enforcement in Minnesota’s major cities, sparked in part by unfounded allegations of fraud amplified by the administration about certain child care programs. 

Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “Targeting children is as low as you can go. I’m proud to have signed this letter with over 200 state legislators who are calling on Congress to use their oversight authority to demand the White House immediately restore full child care funding. Addressing affordability is an urgent need in New York State where we are proudly investing in universal childcare as the administration pulls the rug out from under working families.”

“The administration elevated a single YouTube provocateur with a track record of disinformation over state investigators, auditors, and licensing professionals and then acted on that misinformation by freezing federal funds without evidence, due process, or a new investigation,” the state lawmakers wrote.  

The letter also raises serious concerns about reports of so-called fraud investigations that vigilante activists are attempting to conduct in several states, which are represented by lawmakers who signed the letter. 

Other New York Senators who signed on include Senators Roxanne J. Persaud and Gustavo Rivera, New York Assemblymembers William Colton, Rebecca A. Seawright, and Jo Anne Simon, Esq. 

Senator Gonzalez joined Governor Kathy Hocul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani earlier this year to announce New York’s next steps towards funding universal childcare. 

“Children’s safety is being undermined by the reckless politicization of child care and the replacement of professional oversight with armed agents using intimidation and force,” the state lawmakers wrote. “The administration’s actions must be investigated and stopped because they are part of a deliberate, politically-motivated campaign to spread disinformation rather than serious or responsible oversight.” 

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