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Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
White House reverses course on proposal to eliminate Head Start
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has reversed course on a proposal to cut all funding for Head Start, a preschool and child-care program relied on by hundreds of thousands of low-income families. A spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget, who insisted on remaining unnamed, confirmed to USA TODAY on May 5 that the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget does not include changes to Head Start funding. A budgetary framework released May 2 did not mention Head Start or cuts to its funding. The document did, however, include cuts to other federal programs that support preschools directly and indirectly. The administration's shift seemed to allay the fears of at least some of the nation's more than 1,600 Head Start providers and grant recipients, who spent a month in limbo after USA TODAY first reported on April 11 that the White House was considering asking Congress to eliminate Head Start funding altogether from the Department of Health and Human Services' budget. Other news outlets – including the Associated Press, The Washington Post and The New York Times – later confirmed USA TODAY's reporting. On April 28, a group of state Head Start associations and regional providers sued the Trump administration in federal court over the reportedly planned cuts. The plaintiffs argued the White House was dismantling a "crucial program in defiance of Congress." In a statement May 2, Yasmina Vinci, the executive director for the National Head Start Association, said she was grateful Head Start was not "explicitly eliminated" in Trump's budget proposal. But the White House's broader efforts to slash more than $160 billion from the federal budget could still have implications for Head Start families, she warned. "The proposed deep cuts to non-defense discretionary programs – many of which Head Start families depend on – pose a serious threat to the strength and stability of these essential services," she said. "We will continue our efforts until there is clear assurance that Head Start and its related services are fully protected." Though Head Start appears to be spared from Trump's crusade against government spending, other preschool and after-school programs may be in jeopardy as the Republican-controlled Congress wrestles over the federal budget this summer. On the chopping block in the White House's funding proposal – which doesn't have the force of law, but will influence congressional Republicans – is a $75 million grant system that gives money to colleges to support child-care services. Supporters have lauded the "Child Care Access Means Parents in School" program for helping low-income parents succeed in college. The White House's budget request, on the other hand, says subsidizing child care for adults in college is "unaffordable and duplicative." In addition, the proposal would abolish preschool development grants, which set aside money for states to improve early childhood education. The White House has called the grants "unproductive funds" which officials claim have been used to "push DEI policies on to toddlers," referring to diversity, equity and inclusion. Both Republican and Democratic governors have publicly celebrated when their states were awarded the grants in recent years. Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@ Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Proposal to axe Head Start excluded from Trump's budget
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
White House reverses course on proposal to eliminate Head Start
White House reverses course on proposal to eliminate Head Start A Trump administration official said the White House's budget proposal includes no changes to Head Start. Yet funding for some other child-care programs could still be on the chopping block. Show Caption Hide Caption What we know now about President Trump's reshaping of education Education, especially higher education, has been a major focus of President Trump's term. Here is what we know now about his changes to education. WASHINGTON – The Trump administration has reversed course on a proposal to cut all funding for Head Start, a preschool and child-care program relied on by hundreds of thousands of low-income families. A spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget, who insisted on remaining unnamed, confirmed to USA TODAY on May 5 that the proposed fiscal year 2026 budget does not include changes to Head Start funding. A budgetary framework released May 2 did not mention Head Start or cuts to its funding. The document did, however, include cuts to other federal programs that support preschools directly and indirectly. The administration's shift seemed to allay the fears of at least some of the nation's more than 1,600 Head Start providers and grant recipients, who spent a month in limbo after USA TODAY first reported on April 11 that the White House was considering asking Congress to eliminate Head Start funding altogether from the Department of Health and Human Services' budget. Other news outlets – including the Associated Press, The Washington Post and The New York Times – later confirmed USA TODAY's reporting. On April 28, a group of state Head Start associations and regional providers sued the Trump administration in federal court over the reportedly planned cuts. The plaintiffs argued the White House was dismantling a "crucial program in defiance of Congress." In a statement May 2, Yasmina Vinci, the executive director for the National Head Start Association, said she was grateful Head Start was not "explicitly eliminated" in Trump's budget proposal. But the White House's broader efforts to slash more than $160 billion from the federal budget could still have implications for Head Start families, she warned. "The proposed deep cuts to non-defense discretionary programs – many of which Head Start families depend on – pose a serious threat to the strength and stability of these essential services," she said. "We will continue our efforts until there is clear assurance that Head Start and its related services are fully protected." Other preschool programs still at risk Though Head Start appears to be spared from Trump's crusade against government spending, other preschool and after-school programs may be in jeopardy as the Republican-controlled Congress wrestles over the federal budget this summer. On the chopping block in the White House's funding proposal – which doesn't have the force of law, but will influence congressional Republicans – is a $75 million grant system that gives money to colleges to support child-care services. Supporters have lauded the "Child Care Access Means Parents in School" program for helping low-income parents succeed in college. The White House's budget request, on the other hand, says subsidizing child care for adults in college is "unaffordable and duplicative." In addition, the proposal would abolish preschool development grants, which set aside money for states to improve early childhood education. The White House has called the grants "unproductive funds" which officials claim have been used to "push DEI policies on to toddlers," referring to diversity, equity and inclusion. Both Republican and Democratic governors have publicly celebrated when their states were awarded the grants in recent years. Zachary Schermele is an education reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@ Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
YMCA ends Head Start program for low-income children in KCMO
Kansas City, Mo. – The YMCA of Greater Kansas City is shutting down its Head Start program. 'The Y has been honored to operate Head Start programs for the past 20 years,' the association said. 'Despite years of dedicated effort to recruit and retain qualified staff in an increasingly difficult workforce environment, it is no longer sustainable to operate Head Start programs.' Head Start and Medicaid providers hit glitches as Trump freezes federal money The program provides preschool education, nutrition and health services for children from low-income families, as well as children with diagnosed disabilities. It was created in 1965 and is the longest-running national school readiness program in the United States, according to the YMCA's website. The program operates out of four locations in Kansas City, Missouri: Columbus Park YMCA Head Start, Northland YMCA Head Start, Park Hill YMCA Head Start and Thomas Roque YMCA Head Start. The YMCA said the last day will be May 23, 2025, as long as staffing allows. 'We understand the challenges this creates for families and associates,' the YMCA said. 'We are working closely with Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), the Head Start grantee overseeing our programs, to assist families and associates.' Still locked out of federal funding, several Head Start preschools may need to close temporarily Head Start is a federal program with 1,600 agencies across the U.S. The National Head Start Association (NHSA) said tens of thousands of children and families were impacted by President Trump's federal funding freeze earlier this year – after at least 45 grant recipients, serving nearly 20,000 children and their families, experienced delays in accessing funds, according to a survey. 'Head Start is a lifeline for children and families in their most urgent times of need,' NHSA's Executive Director Yasmina Vinci said in February. 'While it remains unclear why this delay is happening, it must be resolved immediately or thousands of families and their children will be at risk of losing the critical early care and educational services they depend on to work, go to school, and develop.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Head Start child-care centers face pay delays after Trump's federal funding freeze
Dozens of Head Start programs nationwide — including at least six in California — have experienced delays in accessing government money for payroll and expenses in the week since the Trump administration announced a freeze on federal funding. The centers, which rely entirely on federal funding to provide child care to low-income children, were thrown into a panic last week, when the Office of Management and Budget announced a sweeping freeze on federal aid. The White House later clarified that Head Start would not be affected by the freeze, and OMB rescinded the memo after it was temporarily blocked by a federal judge. Nonetheless, a growing number of Head Start grant recipients, which operate on razor-thin margins, have reported delays in accessing approved grant funding, according to the National Head Start Assn. While most Head Start programs have not experienced major disruptions, some have had no other option but to close down services, while others are scrambling to find other funding sources to keep their doors open, the association said. As of Thursday — 10 days after the federal freeze was announced — the association said at least 52 programs across 22 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico are still experiencing funding delays. The programs, which serve nearly 20,000 children from birth through age 5, report receiving "pending" or "in process" messages when they request to draw down funds from their grant from an online payment system. 'Without the ability to predictably pay the rent, buy the food needed to feed the children, and meet payroll, our entire operation is in jeopardy. And the ones who suffer the most are the children in our care,' said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Assn. "We urge President Donald Trump and the acting leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services to immediately address the issues leading to unnecessary delays in funding." As of Tuesday, Melanee Cottrill, executive director of Head Start California, said at least six California-based Head Start programs were experiencing funding delays. Cumulatively, those programs employ 884 people and serve 3,856 children. At least one program in Los Angeles County — with 250 staff and 1,400 children — was "on the brink of closing," as even a small delay can be "a serious problem," she said. That program, along with one other, has since received the payments. Read more: Trump White House rescinds order freezing federal grants after widespread confusion Head Start programs are required to spend funds within three days of receiving them, so they tend to gather up their bills and then once or twice a week request money to pay them. Typically, the money lands in their bank account one day later. But since the federal freeze was announced, programs are waiting 5 to 7 days for the money. 'Our programs have bills, and they don't have the money to pay them,' Cottrill said. Smaller programs in particular tend not to have a financial cushion and are incurring late fees and interest, which they are not allowed to use Head Start funding to pay, putting them in financial jeopardy. Head Start programs across California serve about 90,000 children and employ 25,000 workers. Several programs in other states closed down temporarily because of funding delays. In an added complication, the federal Office of Head Start is housed within the Department of Health and Human Services, which the Trump administration prohibited from communicating with the public, Cottrill said. "We're not getting the guidance we normally would, and we're left out in the wind trying to figure out what's happening." The Los Angeles County Office of Education is the largest Head Start grantee in the region and contracts with school districts and private nonprofits to serve 8,000 children and families. Recently, a $10-million payment request was delayed by a week, said Luis Bautista, executive director of the agency's Head Start and Early Learning Division. The county office had sufficient reserves to keep their programs running, but that's not the case for most Head Start grantees, which tend to be small agencies, he said. "The minute you tell them, 'no money,' even if it's for a few days or a few weeks, they probably need to think about closing their doors temporarily and furloughing employees.' Read more: Trump poised to diminish the education department; fate of financial aid, equity grants uncertain Jocelyn Tucker, assistant director at the Foundation for Early Childhood Education Inc. in Pasadena, which serves 500 children, said she has not yet experienced a funding delay but says there's still a sense of "widespread uncertainty" at her program. "Everybody's nervous and everybody's on edge wondering what's going to happen. Parents as well. Head Start serves the lowest-income families. What else is there?" Tucker said. "Parents need to drop their kids off to go to work. If there's nowhere for the kids to go, they can't go to work or pay their bills. It's just a snowball effect." This article is part of The Times' early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
07-02-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
Head Start child-care centers face pay delays after Trump's federal funding freeze
Dozens of Head Start programs nationwide — including at least six in California — have experienced delays in accessing government money for payroll and expenses in the week since the Trump administration announced a freeze on federal funding. The centers, which rely entirely on federal funding to provide child care to low-income children, were thrown into a panic last week, when the Office of Management and Budget announced a sweeping freeze on federal aid. The White House later clarified that Head Start would not be affected by the freeze, and OMB rescinded the memo after it was temporarily blocked by a federal judge. Nonetheless, a growing number of Head Start grant recipients, which operate on razor-thin margins, have reported delays in accessing approved grant funding, according to the National Head Start Assn. While most Head Start programs have not experienced major disruptions, some have had no other option but to close down services, while others are scrambling to find other funding sources to keep their doors open, the association said. As of Thursday — 10 days after the federal freeze was announced — the association said at least 52 programs across 22 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico are still experiencing funding delays. The programs, which serve nearly 20,000 children from birth through age 5, report receiving 'pending' or 'in process' messages when they request to draw down funds from their grant from an online payment system. 'Without the ability to predictably pay the rent, buy the food needed to feed the children, and meet payroll, our entire operation is in jeopardy. And the ones who suffer the most are the children in our care,' said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Assn. 'We urge President Donald Trump and the acting leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services to immediately address the issues leading to unnecessary delays in funding.' As of Tuesday, Melanee Cottrill, executive director of Head Start California, said at least six California-based Head Start programs were experiencing funding delays. Cumulatively, those programs employ 884 people and serve 3,856 children. At least one program in Los Angeles County — with 250 staff and 1,400 children — was 'on the brink of closing,' as even a small delay can be 'a serious problem,' she said. That program, along with one other, has since received the payments. Head Start programs are required to spend funds within three days of receiving them, so they tend to gather up their bills and then once or twice a week request money to pay them. Typically, the money lands in their bank account one day later. But since the federal freeze was announced, programs are waiting 5 to 7 days for the money. 'Our programs have bills, and they don't have the money to pay them,' Cottrill said. Smaller programs in particular tend not to have a financial cushion and are incurring late fees and interest, which they are not allowed to use Head Start funding to pay, putting them in financial jeopardy. Head Start programs across California serve about 90,000 children and employ 25,000 workers. Several programs in other states closed down temporarily because of funding delays. In an added complication, the federal Office of Head Start is housed within the Department of Health and Human Services, which the Trump administration prohibited from communicating with the public, Cottrill said. 'We're not getting the guidance we normally would, and we're left out in the wind trying to figure out what's happening.' The Los Angeles County Office of Education is the largest Head Start grantee in the region and contracts with school districts and private nonprofits to serve 8,000 children and families. Recently, a $10-million payment request was delayed by a week, said Luis Bautista, executive director of the agency's Head Start and Early Learning Division. The county office had sufficient reserves to keep their programs running, but that's not the case for most Head Start grantees, which tend to be small agencies, he said. 'The minute you tell them, 'no money,' even if it's for a few days or a few weeks, they probably need to think about closing their doors temporarily and furloughing employees.' Jocelyn Tucker, assistant director at the Foundation for Early Childhood Education Inc. in Pasadena, which serves 500 children, said she has not yet experienced a funding delay but says there's still a sense of 'widespread uncertainty' at her program. 'Everybody's nervous and everybody's on edge wondering what's going to happen. Parents as well. Head Start serves the lowest-income families. What else is there?' Tucker said. 'Parents need to drop their kids off to go to work. If there's nowhere for the kids to go, they can't go to work or pay their bills. It's just a snowball effect.' This article is part of The Times' early childhood education initiative, focusing on the learning and development of California children from birth to age 5. For more information about the initiative and its philanthropic funders, go to
