Mass firings of federal employees by the Trump administration could mean that Gold Star spouses and other defense employees at Hill Air Force Base in Utah may not have child care as early as this week, according to an internal message reviewed by Military.com.

The notice sent out Monday morning to active-duty military members and Department of Defense civilians whose children are at the base’s child development centers, or CDCs, said that there are day care employees who either voluntarily took a deferred resignation offer from the administration or fell within a probationary employment period targeted for firings by the White House’s Office of Personnel Management.

“Due to the nature of the effects this will likely have on the program, we may be forced to rapidly reduce operations in the child development centers,” according to the message, which was verified as authentic and accurate by a Hill Air Force Base spokesperson.

Read Next: Hegseth Scraps Fort Moore Name in Latest Move to Undo Congress’ Base Renamings

President Donald Trump and his top adviser, billionaire Elon Musk, have set out over the past month to heavily reduce the size, scope and spending of the federal government. Cuts to Hill’s child care staffing come after as many as 37 kids were allegedly abused at the base in 2023 and as CDCs at installations across the nation struggle with staffing issues, Military.com reported in a 2024 investigation.

The message read that Hill — the service’s second-largest base by population, with more than 20,000 military personnel, employees, contractors and dependents — may have to consolidate its two child care facilities, CDC East and CDC West, into one.

“At this time, we do not know for certain that CDC East will have to close, and if it does, timing is also unknown,” Kendahl Johnson, a base spokesperson, told Military.com. “The message was sent to prepare families for the possibility that they may need to find alternate means of child care if the CDC East is forced to close and that the closure could happen as early as this week.”

Officials are looking at the priority list and Military Family Types to see what groups may see reduced care. Specifically, the message stated that priority types 2A through 3F will be the “first to be disenrolled from the child development center should staff reductions come into effect.”

Priority types 2A through 3F include single or dual defense or Coast Guard employees with full-time, part-time or non-working spouses, including Gold Star spouses, according to military resource websites. These categories also apply to defense contractors, deactivated National Guard and reserve personnel, and military retirees.

Kayla Corbitt, a military spouse and the founder of Operation Child Care Project, a nonprofit that advocates for family care for service members and their loved ones, told Military.com that the potential reductions at the child care facility also come as many spouses are being fired due to the Trump administration’s massive cuts in the federal workforce.

“The supplanting of lower-priority levels is a concern, particularly as we see military spouses being removed from federal positions across the country,” Corbitt said. “This results in a lower priority status, leading to mission readiness issues when they seek new employment. Military families shouldn’t have to choose between safe care and their employment.”

Hill has struggled with issues at its child development centers recently.

In 2023, it was revealed that 37 kids may have been abused and 12 staff members were under investigation, Military.com reported. A 2024 investigation by Military.com showed that families were often left in the dark about abuse and had little oversight as the child care facilities were consistently understaffed.

“Installation Ieadership is working with higher headquarters on options, as well as working with potentially affected families to provide contacts and resources should they have to find alternate child care,” Johnson told Military.com.

Related: Allegations of Child Abuse at Hill Air Force Base Day-Care Centers Trigger Investigation

Story Continues