DeWine said the state has “strong safeguards and regular audits” in place to vet providers and prevent misuse of child care assistance funds. He acknowledged, however, that the state is monitoring a federal funding freeze by the Trump administration that could soon affect Ohio’s operations.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services paused portions of federal child care funding after fraud investigations in Minnesota raised concerns about accountability in state-level programs. DeWine said Ohio’s funding would remain secure for about eight weeks but warned that delays could disrupt services for families if the freeze continues.
“Our system is not under investigation, and we have worked hard to maintain integrity and transparency,” DeWine said in a briefing at the Statehouse. “But when federal dollars are frozen—even temporarily—it creates real uncertainty for families who rely on this care to stay employed.”
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Matt Damschroder said his office is reviewing contingency plans to protect access to subsidized child care if federal disbursements are delayed. The department oversees licensing and payment processing for more than 7,000 child care providers statewide.
The viral allegations, which circulated widely on TikTok and Facebook over the weekend, claimed the state had uncovered “widespread fraud rings” among child care centers. Officials said the posts appear to exaggerate isolated cases of improper billing that were already addressed by enforcement actions.
DeWine urged residents to rely on verified information and said the state would continue communicating with federal agencies to ensure Ohio families are not caught in bureaucratic limbo.
“Parents deserve stability and confidence,” he said. “We’re doing everything possible to make sure no child loses care because of misinformation or a funding dispute.”