Senator Tammy Duckworth Requests Investigation into Trump Administration's Child Care Access Means Parents In School Grants

Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) has requested an immediate investigation into the Trump Administration's withholding of applications for Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS) grants for the 2025-2026 academic year. The CCAMPIS program provides child care assistance for low-income students in postsecondary settings, with nearly 4 million college students being parents of dependent children. Despite bipartisan support, the Trump Administration has failed to open applications for the program's grants, effectively withholding funds that Congress has already approved.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump Administration has withheld applications for CCAMPIS grants, leaving thousands of student parents uncertain about their ability to afford child care services, thereby threatening their participation in the 2025-2026 academic year.
• The CCAMPIS program helps nearly 4 million college students who are parents of dependent children, representing more than one in five undergraduates (22%) in the United States.
• The program's funding has been consistently approved by Congress on a bipartisan basis, with the current academic year's funding already allocated.
• The administration's withholding of these funds is considered an illegal impoundment, as stated by Senator Tammy Duckworth in a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
• The Senator believes the administration has exceeded its statutory authority under the Impoundment Control Act, and GAO should conduct an independent review of the handling of CCAMPIS funding.
• The withholding of these funds represents a significant barrier to access to education and economic security for the thousands of low-income parents depending on CCAMPIS.

Statistics:

• 4 million college students are parents of dependent children, representing more than one in five undergraduates (22%) in the United States.
• Congress has consistently voted to appropriate millions of dollars in funding for CCAMPIS each year under bipartisan support.
• 2025-2026 academic year funding is already allocated, with the Trump Administration withholding applications for the program's grants.
• Thousands of low-income parents are now forced to make a difficult decision about enrolling in school without knowing if they can afford child care services.

Sources:

• https://www.duckworth.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/duckworth-leads-bipartisan-bill-to-reauthorize-and-fund-child-care-access-means-parents-in-school-campis-program
• https://beta.congress.gov/congressional-report/117th-congress/senate-report/43/text
• https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/patient-accountability-and-transparency-laboratory/quality-matters/product/summer-2019-patient-parent-pioneer-report