Donald Trump’s federal civilian hiring freeze is having far-reaching effects with two Army bases already suspending child care programs due to the freeze. The two bases said they would not be admitting any more children into their programs either.
Trump’s freeze was intended to cut back on excessive government spending, but some may argue that childcare programs are indispensible. Officials for the Fort Knox Army Base said a handful of its child care programs will be suspended, including on-base child development center programs, the hourly care program, and new enrollment. Even after trying to ease the burden by suspending those few programs, a Fort Knox spokesperson said they are still having issues staffing other programs:
“We are prevented from bringing new caregivers on board but are still having our usual staff turnover and illnesses, which creates challenges to maintaining ratios and providing quality childcare.”
The U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden base in Germany is having similar issues while suspending part-day programs. VoteVets posted a copy of a leaked letter to troops who are stationed at the base.
If you don’t think @realDonaldTrump’s #hiringfreeze hurts our military, and military families, think again. This just leaked online. pic.twitter.com/H69Uh8Fukq
— VoteVets (@votevets) February 21, 2017
Parents will feel the brunt of the programs’ suspension, which came abruptly as Fort Knox only received a 10-day notice of the changes.
Military.com reports that programs like child care were supposed to be exempt from the freeze, but that no longer seems to be the case:
“Although a Feb. 1 Defense Department memo exempts from the freeze 16 categories of civilian workers, including ‘positions providing child care to the children of military personnel,’ Army base commanders are still required to get permission from the service secretary before filling positions, according to a Feb. 16 memo from Diane Randon, acting assistant secretary of the Army for manpower and reserve affairs.”
Trump may contend suspending child care programs is a necessary evil to help the country’s budget, but criticism will only continue. After all, taxpayers have already paid $10 million to cover Trump’s Mar-a-Lago excursions.
(Via Military.com)