The Trump administration has shifted course on a proposal to defund Head Start, a vital early education program for low-income and homeless preschoolers. Despite concerns raised by a leaked proposal from Project 2025, which recommended cutting Head Start, the recent budget summary did not mention any cuts to the program. However, worries persist among teachers, families, and advocates about the program’s stability, as regional office closures and staff layoffs have caused funding delays that jeopardize individual preschools.

An accidentally sent document revealed plans to eliminate funding for research on Head Start and other child care programs. Even before the current administration, staffing shortages and rising costs had forced some programs to reduce their student intake or close down entirely. Advocates warn that cuts to education and social safety-net programs could further harm families relying on Head Start services.

Yasmina Vinci, the executive director for the National Head Start Association, expressed gratitude that Head Start was not explicitly eliminated in the budget proposal but raised concerns about the significant cuts that could impact access to essential services for hundreds of thousands of families. The potential repercussions of these cuts on health services, education, and family support are a source of ongoing apprehension for advocates and stakeholders in the early education sector.