The end of billions in pandemic federal support for child care centers nationwide could worsen a shortage of workers and care.

Many child care providers used the funds to pay their staff. Now that the money is gone, it could affect providers’ ability to recruit and retain workers.

Costs have reached new heights just as federal subsidies that helped providers cover staffing and other expenses come to an end.

Nearly 13% of U.S. families struggled to put food on the table that year, according to the USDA — 5 million more households than the year before.

A new report warns that the looming withdrawal of pandemic-era aid for childcare could hurt children and families.

As many as 15 million people may lose Medicaid coverage after the pandemic emergency is formally declared over. But the government’s own projections show many of them will still qualify. They’ll just get hung up in the paperwork.