Families in the Utah Air Force base are now looking for new childcare options after one of the two child development centers located on Hill Air Force Base closed.

Earlier this month, families were informed that Hill would close one of their child development centers, which could be because of Trump’s hiring freeze.

A lot of families have been affected by the recent changes. Therefore, there’s a strong need for them to find alternative care for their children.

Utah Air Force Base Struggles with Child Development Center Closure

One of the child development centers (CDCs) closed on Utah Air Force Base just this month. About 31 children don’t have a spot in the CDC on the Davis County base. Regardless of being informed of the closure in mid-March, some families still can’t find alternative childcare services.

A report by the advocacy group Voices for Utah Children in 2023 states that licensed childcare providers meet just 36% of the statewide demand.

"Maintaining two open CDCs at current personnel levels would pose an unacceptable risk to the 200 children who remain in care at Hill AFB," Johnson said.

Regardless of "child and youth programs staff," as well as "instructors or facility support staff at DOD schools or child care centers" being exempted from the hiring freeze, it came too late for Hill Air Force Base, as according to Johnson, "the hiring, onboarding, and training process will take time."

Why Pentagon Budget Cuts Are a Factor

A second CDC is currently in progress. However, the operation was paused due to Trump’s hiring freeze.

Although “Instructors or facility support staff at DOD Schools or Child Care Centers” are exempted from the freeze, this was the reason why it became difficult for the second child development center to continue operating.

"CDCs traditionally face high turnover, and several recent departures in conjunction with the hiring freeze have reduced the number of supervisors and trainers available," Kendahl Johnson told Military.com on Friday. "Maintaining two open CDCs at current personnel levels would pose an unacceptable risk to the 200 children who remain in care at Hill AFB."

Trump’s hiring freeze was a clear trigger for why one of the two CDCs was shut down.

The executive order for the hiring freeze was issued at the end of February, “Implementing the President’s Department of Government Efficiency’ Workforce Optimization Initiative.”

Families Face Challenges Without Reliable Child Care

With just one week of notice, Kayla Corbitt, a military spouse and founder of the Operation Child Care Project – a nonprofit that advocates for family care for service members, said that it’s not enough for families to find alternative childcare and that it’s a little too time.

"A week's notice to find alternative care is a harsh timeline," Corbitt said. "Families with two to three months' notice prior to a PCS struggle [to] find care. These are families who will likely need to cobble together care and need safety planning to ensure their children are safe while they return to the mission."

The affected families are priority types 2A through 3F, which include Coast Guard employees with full-time, part-time, or non-working spouses, including Gold Star spouses. This also applies to defense, deactivated National Guard and reserve personnel, and military retirees.

"The supplanting of lower-priority levels is a concern, particularly as we see military spouses being removed from federal positions across the country," Corbitt said. "This results in a lower priority status, leading to mission readiness issues when they seek new employment. Military families shouldn't have to choose between safe care and their employment."

What’s Next for Affected Families and Possible Solutions

With one of the CDCs closing, the families at Utah Air Force Base are struggling to find other options for their children's developmental care.

Many parents now have to look for child care outside of the Utah Air Force Base, raising expenses for families.

As a result, many have raised concerns, asking the Pentagon to think about these budget cuts, while local leaders are looking for ways to help, such as offering more childcare support or working with providers.

Read next:

• Military Child Care Centers & DOD Teachers Given Exemption from Civilian Hiring Freeze
• Trump Pushes the DOD to Explore School Choice Options for Military Families
• Robins Air Force Base Daycare Director Sentenced in Child Abuse Case

Sources:

• Families at Utah Air Force Base Lose Day Care Center as Pentagon Slashes Personnel Spending