The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS) is grappling with a projected budget shortfall of more than $85 million, triggering immediate service cuts and a near-halt on new foster care placements by private providers. These figures were announced during a Joint Judiciary Juvenile and Appropriations Human Resources Subcommittee meeting held on December 18, 2025. The financial crisis comes even as the state of Georgia reports a historic $14 billion budget surplus.

State officials attribute the deficit, estimated between $85 million and $87.5 million for the fiscal year, to a convergence of economic pressures. According to the Georgia Department of Human Services, the cost of care has risen nearly 50% over the last three years. Inflation, a decrease in federal funding, and delayed grants resulting from a federal government shutdown have compounded the issue.

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