A new proposal being considered by the Trump administration could provide a major change to the federal child-care system, potentially allowing married families with a stay-at-home parent to receive federal child-care assistance.

The proposal, which is reportedly being pushed in part by Vice President JD Vance, would direct child-care funds to certain married stay-at-home parents.

If approved, the proposal could have particular significance for communities such as Lakewood, where many families choose to have one parent remain home to care for their children while the other parent works.

The change could be made without approval from Congress.

Under the current system, federal child-care assistance is generally designed to help eligible families pay for outside child-care arrangements, with most of the money distributed to states, which in turn distribute it to parents, usually in the form of vouchers or direct deposits to child care providers. Parents who provide the care themselves typically do not receive a comparable subsidy.

Under the draft new rule, parents who stay home with their children could benefit from the program, which typically provides about $9,000 per child each year.

The proposed policy would represent a different approach, potentially recognizing the value of parents providing care directly in their own homes, and would effectively create a government incentive for parents to stay home with their children.

The details of the proposal have not yet been finalized, and it remains unclear how much assistance families could receive, what income requirements would apply or precisely how the program would be administered.

The proposal comes as Washington continues to grapple with the nation’s child-care crisis. Child-care costs have risen sharply in many parts of the country, while families also face shortages of available providers.

For families who choose to have a parent remain home, the proposal could provide a significant financial benefit. Such families often forgo one potential income in order for a parent to provide full-time care for the children, while also not qualifying for child-care assistance because they do not pay an outside provider.

A policy that allows assistance to follow the family, rather than being limited to payments for outside providers, could therefore represent a substantial change for many families in Lakewood and similar communities nationwide.

The administration has not yet announced a final policy, and additional details are expected before any changes are implemented. If it is finalized, it could go into effect as soon as next year.