Gary Parents Depend on Head Start. Trump's Budget Cuts Put It at Risk.
When Jessica Fullilove enrolled her 4-year-old son at Geminus Head Start-St. Mark Early Learning Academy in Glen Park, she expected a strong educational foundation. But the staff went far beyond that.
'[They] actually caught a developmental delay that even the doctor didn't catch on to right away, so I'm thankful for that,' Fullilove said. 'The community resources they give our family make it so we can effectively parent our entire family. My husband and I can work while he's here getting the education he needs.'
Fullilove's story is one of many that illustrate how federally funded early-childhood education programs like Head Start serve as a lifeline for working families. But with federal funding for early education facing potential cuts under the Trump administration, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton and 1st District U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan toured St. Mark to highlight the program's impact.
Both officials characterized their visit as a show of support for continued federal investment in early education, particularly in communities like Gary, where programs like Head Start provide critical resources for children and working parents amid broader debates over budget priorities and the future of federally funded social programs.
'We aren't just helping individual children,' Melton said after a tour of the Glen Park facility.
'We're laying a foundation for the future, laying a foundation for strong families, a stronger economy, and a stronger Gary, Indiana, for generations to come.'
Since the start of his second administration, President Donald Trump has pursued widespread cuts to federal agencies and programs, citing efforts to find fraud and government waste.
William Trowbridge, CEO of Regional Care Group, of which Geminus Head Start is a member, acknowledged that funding for the program briefly fell victim to a round of freezes set in motion through executive order from Trump and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.
'For at least a short period of time, it was not possible to access some of the funding systems. We couldn't log on, we couldn't draw down funding for the continued services that we provide,' Trowbridge said.
Large-scale firings have been reported at various departments, including Veteran Affairs, Education, Energy, Health & Human Services, and the National Park Service. In addition, funding freezes have been imposed on many organizations like, Head Start, which depend on government grants.
The uncertainty of the federal freezes, which briefly affected Head Start, led to Thursday's visit by Melton and Mrvan, as a show of support for a program they believe enhances the lives of young children as well as the community.
Mrvan, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee, addressed questions about the threats to programs like Head Start and reassured his commitment to Congress' role in spending taxpayer dollars.
'I am a firm believer in the power of the purse in Congress, and Congress having the ability by law through the Constitution and the 14th Amendment to fund programs,' he said.
Mrvan said funding for programs like Head Start is allocated through the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, and he pledged to advocate for the $12 billion designated for it.
The funding freeze and large-scale firings have come largely from the White House through executive order and DOGE, which has been the source of multiple lawsuits alleging the freezes are illegal as Congress has already appropriated the funds.
Mrvan laid out a timeline of important dates for Americans to consider when making decisions on funding.
'We have a continuing resolution that is going to be coming up on March 14, which is the funding mechanism for 2025, then we begin our appropriations committees negotiations where both parties in the House and the Senate come together and create a budget,' Mrvan said.
The St. Mark's Academy serves 90 preschoolers and 27 infant toddlers across five Head Start classrooms, with 83 more children awaiting services.
The post Gary Parents Depend on Head Start. Trump's Budget Cuts Put It at Risk. appeared first on Capital B Gary.
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