Kathryn Anne Edwards, Columnist

America Is About to Fall Off a Child Care Cliff

Neither Congress nor the president seems adequately concerned about an impending labor-market calamity.

August 14, 2023 at 11:30 AM UTC

By Kathryn Anne Edwards

Kathryn Anne Edwards is a labor economist, independent policy consultant and co-host of the Optimist Economy podcast.

AI won’t solve this.
Photographer: Simone Lueck/Bloomberg

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There's an economic calamity approaching: At the end of September, pandemic-era federal funding for child care will expire, potentially leaving more than 3 million kids without a spot — and forcing many of their parents to drop out of the workforce.

Policymakers have seen this coming a mile away. Yet in a stark illustration of indifference and inconsistency, Congress has yet to intervene.