29-01-2025
Confusion over Michigan Head Start programs continues
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — Around 9 Tuesday night the Capital Area Community Services — also known as CACS — published a social media statement about the confusion surrounding its Head Start programs across Mid-Michigan.
Late Tuesday afternoon an left many worrying about what would and would not have been affected, and while a minutes before it was set to take effect, many people took to Facebook and other social media platforms to claim CACS emailed them saying, 'We have to close all of our Head Start sites and services until further notice.'
Other people were writing they work for CACS Head Start and had been laid off in a similar email Tuesday afternoon. 6 News has not been able to confirm this took place.
On Facebook Wednesday morning CACS wrote:
From our Head Start Director, we want to let families know the following schools with Head Start Services will be open for Forest View, Gier Park, Pleasant View & will continue to communicate with staff and families as messaging comes to you!
CACS Head Start
It remains unclear Wednesday morning how many Head Start programs remained closed today and what will happen in the following days to the programs, students and employees.
6 News also obtained a copy of guidance sent out to lawmakers regarding the directive, which indicates that Head Start programs will not be affected.
Q: Is this a freeze on benefits to Americans like SNAP or student loans?
A: No, any program that provides direct benefits to Americans is explicitly excluded from the pause and exempted from this review process. In addition to Social Security and Medicare, already explicitly excluded in the guidance, mandatory programs like Medicaid and SNAP will continue without pause.
Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused. If agencies are concerned that these programs may implicate the President's Executive Orders, they should consult OMB to begin to unwind these objectionable policies without a pause in the payments.
Office of Management and Budget — Jan. 28, 2025
The following is a statement from the Michigan Department of Education, also released before the order was blocked.
The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is aware of the M-25-13 memo from the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to federal agency heads on January 27, 2025. This memo puts a two-week pause on federal grant, loan, and other financial assistance programs, with the exception of assistance provided directly to is working with the Executive Office of the Governor and the Michigan Department of the Attorney General on the protection of federal funds for Michigan's students and school staff members. Attorney General Dana Nessel issued this you for all you do every day to serve Michigan's public school children and support their education
Michael F. Rice, State Superintendent, Jan. 28, 202
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