The Trump administration is considering a major change to federal child-care assistance that could allow certain married families with a stay-at-home parent, including families in New Jersey, to receive thousands of dollars per child each year.

According to a New York Times report, administration officials are drafting a rule that would allow married couples in certain income brackets to receive assistance from the federal Child Care and Development Fund when one spouse works and the other stays home to care for their children.

Because the program operates nationwide through state-administered child-care assistance systems, families in New Jersey could be among those affected if the proposal is finalized.

The program currently primarily helps low- and moderate-income working families pay outside child-care providers. The subsidy averages approximately $9,000 per child annually, although actual benefits vary by state and family circumstances.

Under the proposal reportedly being considered, a married parent could qualify to receive assistance for caring for his or her own child at home while the other spouse works at least 35 hours per week.

The proposal is reportedly a major priority for Vice President JD Vance, who has advocated for federal family policies that provide greater support to parents who choose to care for their children at home.

The change could be implemented through federal rulemaking without requiring new legislation from Congress. However, the proposal remains in draft form and could still be revised. If approved by the White House, it would first be published for public comment before being finalized and could potentially take effect sometime next year.

The proposal could be particularly significant for New Jersey families with one parent remaining home to raise young children, who generally have not been eligible to receive federal child-care subsidies for care provided by the parent themselves.

Critics have raised concerns that expanding eligibility without increasing the amount of money available could leave fewer funds for working families who currently rely on subsidies to pay daycare and other child-care providers.

The Trump administration has previously said it intends to pursue child-care reforms aimed at increasing affordability, expanding parental choice and providing greater support for stay-at-home parents.