Stealing From Our Children: Trump’s Dismantling of Head Start Harms Children and Families

Stealing From Our Children: Trump’s Dismantling of Head Start Harms Children and Families Head Start provides a range of educational, nutritional, health, and other wraparound services that help low-income families get and stay on their feet, and set their children up for success in the future. Despite a history of underfunding from Congress, Head Start has a proven record of improving graduation rates, boosting educational attainment, and supporting overall health for the more than 40 million children it has served over its 60-year history.

Since the Trump Administration took office, Head Start has faced a series of unprecedented attacks. The administration froze federal funding within its first two weeks in office, staff have been terminated from the Office of Head Start, and five regional offices that oversee Head Start programs in 23 states and five territories have been shuttered. News coverage recently reported that the Trump administration is considering a budget proposal that would eliminate Head Start funding completely, as proposed in Project 2025. Already, there are Head Start programs that have been forced to close their doors due to the Department of Health & Human Services' failure to deliver funds. More program closures and a complete elimination of Head Start would be catastrophic for the thousands of families across the country, particularly those in rural states and districts, who rely on Head Start to care for their children.

Please join the Center for American Progress for a discussion with Head Start directors, educators, and parents and learn more about what the administration’s threats to fully defund the program would mean for the families and communities nationwide who depend on Head Start services. Link to learn more & RSVP: https://rsvp2.americanprogress.org/headstart **This is an external event, not hosted by NICCA