Press Release: 2/19/2026

Moulton Signs Bicameral Letter Urging HHS to Examine Impact of Immigration Enforcement on Child Care Workforce

 

February 17, 2026 

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06) joined other lawmakers in sending a bicameral letter to Alex J. Adams at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The letter urges HHS’s Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to examine how recent immigration policies and enforcement actions are affecting the child care workforce and disrupting families’ access to care.

In the letter, lawmakers call on ACF to assess the extent to which immigration enforcement actions, including workplace raids, are contributing to workforce shortages, increased costs, and reduced child care availability nationwide. They also request information on what steps the agency is taking to mitigate disruptions to federally funded child care programs.

“Child care is essential infrastructure for working families and for our economy,” said Congressman Moulton. “When enforcement actions destabilize the workforce that keeps child care centers open, families feel the impact immediately—through longer waitlists, rising costs, and fewer available slots. HHS must fully assess these consequences and take steps to ensure families aren’t left without the care they depend on.”

The letter requests that:

• ACF explains how it is assessing the effects of immigration enforcement on the child care workforce, care availability, and costs for families.


• HHS disclose what actions it is taking to prevent further disruptions to federally funded child care programs.


• The agency provides data on how enforcement-driven workforce losses may affect waitlists, program closures, and parents’ ability to remain in the workforce.

Purposefully creating instability in the child care sector hurts families, local businesses, and employers who need parents.

You can read the full letter here.