Project 2029 proposes that the U.S. government provide free childcare centers nationwide or pay a monthly subsidy of $1,000 to families who care for their children themselves, even though this would require a massive budget.
On July 9, 2026, at 4:09 AM, Bloomberg News reported that a group of researchers and former US Democratic officials proposed that the new administration push for a policy of free childcare centers for all families, or provide a monthly subsidy of $1,000 to families who choose to care for their children themselves or have relatives help, in order to alleviate the burden of raising young children.
The proposal is one of the first policies in Project 2029, a project to gather policy proposals from research institutions, academics, and former Democratic officials, spearheaded by Chad Maisel, former advisor to President Joe Biden and former advisor to Senator Cory Booker.
Under this proposal, the federal government will give families with children under five years old two options: either send their children to a public childcare center free of charge, or receive a $1,000 monthly subsidy to offset the costs or lost income from childcare provided by themselves or relatives.
Each state will be responsible for developing a network of certified childcare centers, which may include community daycares, religious institutions, home-based childcare providers, and schools. Family members of all income levels will have free access to childcare services, while monthly subsidies will be limited to households with an annual income of no more than $400,000.
Project 2029, a play on words with the conservative Project 2025, aims to shape the Democratic Party's policy direction in the next presidential election. The push for universal child care reflects the Democrats' perception of increasing public support for this issue.
Tara McGuinness, a co-author of the proposal , stated that solutions for childcare cannot be achieved without significant federal investment, emphasizing that "quality childcare services should not be provided at the expense of costs."
Data from the nonprofit organization Child Care Aware of America indicates that the average cost of childcare in the United States is projected to rise to $13,184 per child by 2025, a 23% increase from four years ago.
The proposal blends ideas from both political poles, with liberals supporting state-run childcare centers, while conservatives tend to propose tax breaks or subsidies for families instead.
However, this policy would require a massive budget, with the report's authors estimating the cost could be close to US$200,000 billion per year. This represents the economic losses, including lost revenue, labor productivity, and tax income, resulting from the current childcare problems.
A poll conducted by Associated Press/NORC last year found that 64% of Americans support federal government-provided free or low-cost childcare services for preschoolers. This support included 76% of Democrats and 51% of Republicans.
New Mexico is currently the first US state to implement universal child care, funded by the state's sovereign wealth fund, although access to services is not yet comprehensive. Meanwhile, the District of Columbia has a highly popular preschool program, with 82% of three-year-olds and 94% of four-year-olds enrolled by 2024. Additionally, Republican-governed states such as Louisiana and Tennessee are also expanding their early childhood education programs.
Reference: www.bloomberg.com
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