Mad Moms Storm Olympia

If you’ve been seeing fired-up moms, parents, and child care providers rallying at the Capitol in Olympia recently, it all boils down to one major issue: massive proposed budget cuts to state child care and early education programs.

In February 2026, hundreds of advocates gathered on the Capitol steps to protest cuts proposed by Governor Bob Ferguson, which were introduced to help address Washington State’s looming $2.3 billion budget shortfall.

It is completely understandable why parents are so frustrated—child care is already incredibly stressful and expensive to navigate. Here is exactly what has everyone so angry:

• Slashed Subsidies: The proposed budget includes nearly $800 million in reductions, with a huge chunk aimed directly at the child care sector. Specifically, it caps the Working Connections Child Care (WCCC) program, which provides essential subsidies to lower-income working families.
• Thousands of Families at Risk: Advocates warn that the cap could leave up to 14,000 families without access to affordable child care, forcing many parents to make the impossible choice between paying for care or leaving the workforce entirely.
• Early Learning Cuts: Programs like “Transition to Kindergarten” and professional development for child care staff are also facing steep funding reductions (including a 25% cut to Transition to Kindergarten).
• Provider Survival: The cuts would also lower the reimbursement rates paid to child care centers, which has many in-home and smaller providers worried they simply won’t be able to afford to stay open.

It is a tough situation all around. The state government is legally required to balance the budget and is trying to avoid raising sales or property taxes to do so. However, the parents and providers storming Olympia feel strongly that balancing a massive deficit on the backs of early education and working families is the wrong move.

Time to go.