The Army has reversed its decision to end a child care subsidy program for Department of the Army civilians.

Army Secretary Mark T. Esper on Feb. 28 “temporarily rescinded” a directive that would have barred civilian employees from enrolling in the Army Fee Assistance Program effective March 1.

“As a result, the Army Fee Assistance Program will continue to operate in accordance with the Army policy currently in place,” Lt. Gen. Bradley Becker, commanding general of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, wrote in a memo.

Becker added that Esper “intends to use this time to consider any adjustments to the program.”

The Army Fee Assistance program helps eligible families cover child care costs by paying a monthly fee directly to the child care provider. The program is designed to help families who send their children to off-post child care centers because the ones on post are full.

Army officials previously announced that civilian employees would soon be ineligible for the program as part of an effort to “prioritize resources to soldiers and their families.”

Advocates quickly pushed back against the proposal, saying it would hurt efforts to retain highly skilled Army civilians.

Children of Army civilians enrolled in the program as of Feb. 28 were to have been grandfathered into the program until they age out (the last day of the summer following their 12th birthday or when entering seventh grade), no longer need care or relocate to a new duty station.

For questions about the directive, email usarmy.jbsa.imcom-fmwrc.mbx.army-fee-assistance@mail.mil. For questions related to your current Army Fee Assistance Account, contact Child Care Aware of America, which administers the fee assistance program, at msp@usa.childcareaware.org.