economy
February 11, 2026
Deregulate to make child care affordable again
Rising prices for many key services helped deliver the White House for President Donald Trump in 2024, and the Trump administration recently touted falling rents and gas prices as part of its affordability agenda. But child care costs, on the other hand, continue to rise.
TL;DR
- Child care costs have increased by 61% since 2010, outpacing food, tuition, and medical care.
- High child care costs force parents, especially women, out of the workforce or into unstable arrangements.
- Stringent state regulations are a significant factor in rising child care costs.
- States with less restrictive regulations, like Idaho, have significantly lower child care costs than highly regulated states like Vermont.
- Deregulation could improve child care affordability and accessibility without compromising safety or quality.
- Sensible deregulation at the state level is proposed as a solution to the child care affordability crisis.
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