PCA America’s Statement on the President’s FY26 Budget Proposal: Cuts Threaten Critical Child Abuse Prevention Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2025 – Chicago, IL – As the President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, I am deeply concerned and profoundly disappointed by the President’s FY26 Budget Proposal, as it neglects the critical investments required to support all families and build a future where communities can truly thrive. It fails to meet the needs of American families by eliminating funding for the prevention of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), research on child sexual abuse, and other child maltreatment prevention initiatives at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
These cuts threaten the safety and well-being of children across the country. ACEs, including abuse, neglect and household trauma, are among the strongest predictors of negative long-term health, academic, and economic outcomes for children and families. Decades of science have shown that these problems can be avoided; this is called prevention. When we invest early, we save lives, strengthen families, and reduce long-term costs.
We are particularly alarmed by the impact this budget would have on the Administration for Children and Families’ child abuse programs, which include Community– Based Child Abuse Prevention grants. These grants empower local organizations to stop abuse before it starts by tailoring prevention efforts to meet the needs in each community. These programs are not theoretical; they deliver real results for real families in communities nationwide.
Last year alone, more than 322,896 families across our prevention network, received support made possible through this federal funding. These are parents who found support before reaching a crisis point, and children who were given a safer, more nurturing start. Eliminating this support would create devastating gaps in care. Across communities the numbers will vary, but the stakes are equally urgent.
If we truly believe in the promise of America’s children, we must fund programs that protect their safety, nurture their potential, and support the communities working tirelessly on their behalf. Cutting these vital investments ignores the evidence, abandons vulnerable children, and undermines the very science of prevention. We call on Congress to reject these harmful cuts and reaffirm our country’s commitment to prevention and our families. Our nation’s future prosperity depends on it.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Takkeem Morgan, Senior Director of Communications, at tmorgan@preventchildabuse.org.
About Prevent Child Abuse America:
Prevent Child Abuse America is the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the primary prevention of child abuse and neglect. Our mission is to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation’s children by fostering an ecosystem of support that empowers and strengthens families. This ecosystem is designed to prevent child abuse before it starts, ensuring that all children and families can lead purposeful, happy lives filled with hope for the future.
Contact:
Takkeem Morgan
Senior Director of Communications
Prevent Child Abuse America
