SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington state officials say they are prepared with fraud detection systems and detailed spending records if federal scrutiny of childcare programs shifts to the state.
The Trump administration announced Tuesday it is withholding federal childcare funds from five Democratic states over fraud concerns. Washington has not received notice of any funding freeze, but state officials say they maintain comprehensive safeguards if the spotlight turns their way.
Joel Ryan, executive director of the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP, said the state tracks childcare subsidies closely and maintains detailed records.
“When families enroll in childcare, childcare provider, if they have a subsidy, they have to sign in electronically every day they come in,” Ryan said. “We have a very, terrific fraud detection system in our state, a lot of checks and balances.”
Ryan said Washington officials are prepared to provide detailed spending receipts if the Trump administration requests documentation of how federal childcare dollars are used.
“I want to assure your viewers that our state has a very robust fraud detection system in place, to make sure that dollars are safeguarded,” Ryan said.
According to the Associated Press, President Donald Trump’s administration announced Tuesday it is withholding funding for programs that support needy families with children in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will require those states to provide extra documentation to access the funds.
According to the AP, HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said families who rely on childcare and family assistance programs deserve confidence that these resources are used lawfully and for their intended purpose.
The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families confirmed Wednesday it has not received any notice from federal officials about a funding freeze or changes to how the state receives childcare dollars.
Ryan said state agency leadership has been meeting with childcare providers to demonstrate support and reassure them about continued funding stability.
“I just got a message from our state agency that our secretary of our Department of Children, Youth and Families has been meeting with childcare providers, to show support, to make sure they know that they’re in good hands,” Ryan said.
While federal funding remains intact, state budget decisions present a larger challenge for Washington families seeking childcare assistance. Governor Jay Inslee’s current budget proposal includes cutting nearly 2,000 spots in the state’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) due to the state’s budget deficit.
Healthcare advocates continue to push for the full restoration of the proposed cuts during the upcoming legislative session.
A private grant from Microsoft co-founder Steve Ballmer pledges to cover thousands of ECEAP spots for the next decade, but the state cuts remain in the governor’s budget proposal.
Families seeking childcare assistance can still access available programs while state lawmakers debate the budget.
“I do want to assure families that our services are open and available. Head Start programs are open and available, so is ECEAP and childcare subsidies,” Ryan said.
