Project 2029, a policy blueprint directed by Chad Maisel, a former adviser to President Joseph Biden and Senator Cory Booker, proposes that the next US president endorse publicly funded child care for all young children or offer families a $1,000 monthly credit if they choose to care for their children at home. The plan targets families with children under five and was published as part of a collection of recommendations by progressive figures and think tanks this week, according to fortune.com.
Under the proposal, families would have two options for each child under five: access to a free public daycare slot or a stipend of $1,000 per month to offset costs or lost income from parent- or relative-provided care. States would be responsible for developing networks of approved daycare providers, including neighborhood centers, houses of worship, home-based providers, and schools. While all families could enroll children in free daycare, only those earning less than $400,000 annually would qualify for the stipend, the plan states.
Project 2029 is positioned as a progressive policy manual aimed at influencing the Democratic platform, drawing a parallel to the conservative Project 2025 from the Heritage Foundation. The inclusion of universal child care options reflects growing support for accessible care solutions among parents nationwide. This proposal highlights the increasing political focus on expanding child care access and financial support for families, a key issue in US social policy debates.
Chad Maisel, now a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, leads Project 2029. The plan’s release this week marks an early contribution to the 2026 presidential policy discussions, emphasizing child care as a priority for Democratic policymakers and advocates, as detailed on fortune.com.