Kentucky Governor Temporarily Restores Foster Care Funding Following 2027 Budget Cuts

After the Kentucky General Assembly adopted a fiscal year 2027 budget that reduced funding for a variety of social services by approximately $1.2 billion, including foster care rates and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear reallocated $30 million in unused project funding to prevent approximately half of the planned foster care rate reductions, according to the governor's June 11, 2026, press conference. The reallocated funding is expected to delay the reductions through January 2027.

Of the $30 million reallocated to restore funding for foster care payments and TANF benefits, $25 million came from an . . .