Trump administration freezes $10 billion in child care funding for Illinois, 4 other states

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — 5 On Your Side has confirmed the federal government is freezing nearly $10 billion in child care funding in five states — including Illinois.

For more than 24 years, Lorenzo and Melaniche Powell, the owners of Powell’s Academy in unincorporated East St. Louis, have worked to make generational change in their community.

“I love the babies,” Melaniche Powell said.

“Kids come in every day and learn,” Lorenzo Powell said.  “They see their parent’s day by day schedules going to work, and us having a place for them to come, is actually watching the system work.”

However, they admit the future of Powell’s Academy is uncertain after the Trump administration froze nearly $1 billion in child care funding earmarked for California, Colorado, Minnesota, New York, and Illinois.

“With Pritzker, and the back and forth, I figured we were going to be a target,” Lorenzo said.

“For too long, Democrat-led states and Governors have been complicit in allowing massive amounts of fraud to occur under their watch,” US Dept. of Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew Nixon said. “Under the Trump administration, we are ensuring that federal taxpayer dollars are being used for legitimate purposes. We will ensure these states are following the law and protecting hard-earned taxpayer money.”

“Our state representatives are out here on us constantly,” Lorenzo said. “There’s no room for fraud here because they’re here yearly, or anytime there’s a complaint, Illinois is here.”

The Powells are left trying to figure out exactly what the freeze will mean to their business.

“People have to pay their bills,” Melaniche said. “Parents have to work. The staff has to do what they have to do.  It’s a domino effect.  It’s going to put people in a certain position, especially the parents, if they come here and see the door closed.”

That’s why they said closing the Academy isn’t a realistic option.

“If I have to I’ll put them all together in one room, knowing it’s out of ration, and stuff like that,” Melaniche Powell.  “I can’t see me closing the door and these parents got to go to work.  I’m just hoping the work we don’t have to do that.”

A spokesperson for the Illinois Dept. of Human Services provided 5 On Your Side with the following statement: 

“IDHS has not received any official communication or notification on impacts to federal funding. This is yet another politically-motivated action by the Trump administration that confuses families and leaves states with more questions than answers. IDHS will provide an update if it is made aware of program or funding changes.”