Biden Administration Freezes Au Pair Program Reform After Public Backlash

I don't know who this is. Man speaks at podium.

The Biden administration hits the pause button on controversial au pair program reforms following extensive public backlash.

At a Glance

The Biden-Harris administration decided against overhauling the au pair program after over 10,000 comments.
New regulations for the program will be revisited in January 2025.
Established in 1986, the au pair program is an educational and cultural exchange initiative run by the State Department.
Proposed changes aimed to extend protections similar to domestic workers but could raise costs by $10,000-$20,000 annually for families.

Biden-Harris Administration Delays Program Reforms

The Biden-Harris administration has decided to hold off on its proposed changes to the au pair program following a significant public backlash. This decision comes after the administration received over 10,000 comments from concerned citizens and stakeholders. Many working families who rely on the program’s flexible childcare solutions have welcomed this pause.

The State Department has announced plans to revisit and possibly publish new regulations for the au pair program in January 2025. Criticism of these proposed changes centers on their potential to render the program financially inaccessible for middle-class households, raising significant concerns among many American families.

The Biden administration is proposing changes to the au pair program in the U.S., as experts say the changes would make it too expensive for most families.

Barbara Comstock: "There's a need for some flexible childcare solutions…I really hope that they revisit this." pic.twitter.com/QNgqQ8CL7O

— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) January 18, 2024

Role and Impact of the Au Pair Program

Established in 1986, the au pair program serves as an educational and cultural exchange program run by the State Department. With approximately 20,000 au pairs currently in the United States, the program offers an affordable childcare option for working families. It enables young foreigners to live with American host families, providing in-home childcare in exchange for cultural exchange opportunities.

The proposed changes aimed to extend labor protections for au pairs, giving them similar rights to domestic workers. However, these modifications could come at a high cost, financially impacting host families by adding $10,000 to $20,000 in annual costs.

Financial and Social Costs

Host families currently cover numerous expenses for au pairs, including housing, utilities, meals, car insurance, cell phones, and other miscellaneous costs. They also pay around $10,000 annually in program fees, which cover airfare, health insurance, and additional expenses. Increasing costs and the proposed reduction in allowable working hours are major concerns for families relying on this program.

“It is disheartening to see these proposed rules that could turn this program into a privilege only for high-income Americans.” – as one middle-class mother who’s participated in the au pair program since 2017 put it.

The ongoing debate on how to balance au pair protections while maintaining program affordability highlights the complexities faced by policymakers. Critics argue that prioritizing protections for non-citizen au pairs could disadvantage American families in need of affordable childcare solutions.

Future of the Program

Looking ahead, there’s potential for the au pair program to expand beyond childcare into elder care, providing a cost-effective solution for aging Americans to receive in-home assistance. Such an expansion could help elderly individuals age in place, reducing the burden on taxpayers and supporting working families juggling childcare and elder care responsibilities.

“The State Department is trying to have it both ways, where they treat the au pairs as employees, but also in other ways not treat them as employees,” said Alex Nowrasteh, Vice President for Economic and Social Policy Studies at the Cato Institute.

As the State Department readies for another round of regulatory considerations in 2025, the program’s future remains uncertain. The challenge will be to find a middle ground that upholds fair labor protections without making the program financially inaccessible for the middle-class families that rely on it.