Dozens of Head Start programs across the United States, including at least six in California, are currently facing significant delays in accessing federal funding for payroll and operational expenses. This situation arose after the Trump administration announced a temporary freeze on federal aid, causing widespread concern among organizations that rely entirely on government funding to provide essential child care services for low-income families.
The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) announcement last week initially sent Head Start programs into a state of panic. Although the White House later clarified that Head Start would not be impacted by the freeze, the OMB subsequently rescinded the memo after a federal judge temporarily blocked it. Despite this clarification, many Head Start grant recipients continue to report issues with accessing their approved funds.
As of Thursday, ten days following the announcement of the federal freeze, at least 52 Head Start programs across 22 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are still experiencing funding delays. These programs serve nearly 20,000 children from birth to age five, and many have reported receiving "pending" or "in process" notifications when attempting to withdraw funds from their grants through the online payment system.
Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association, expressed deep concern over the situation, stating, "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." Vinci urged President Trump and the Department of Health and Human Services to promptly resolve the issues causing these unnecessary delays.
In California, Melanee Cottrill, executive director of Head Start California, reported that at least six programs in the state are experiencing funding delays, which collectively employ 884 staff members and serve 3,856 children. One particular program in Los Angeles County, which employs 250 staff and serves 1,400 children, was reported to be "on the brink of closing" due to the financial uncertainty caused by the delays.
Typically, Head Start programs are required to spend their funds within three days of receiving them, allowing them to manage their expenses effectively. However, since the federal freeze was announced, programs are now waiting five to seven days to receive their funds. This delay is particularly detrimental to smaller programs that lack a financial cushion, leading to late fees and interest charges that they cannot cover with Head Start funding.
The Los Angeles County Office of Education, the largest Head Start grantee in the region, reported a recent $10 million payment request was delayed by a week. Although the county office had sufficient reserves to continue operations, many smaller Head Start agencies do not have the same financial stability. Luis Bautista, executive director of the agency’s Head Start and Early Learning Division, noted that even short delays in funding can force these smaller agencies to consider temporary closures or furloughing employees.
Jocelyn Tucker, assistant director at the Foundation for Early Childhood Education Inc. in Pasadena, which serves 500 children, highlighted the anxiety felt by parents and staff alike. "Everybody’s nervous and everybody’s on edge wondering what’s going to happen," she said, emphasizing the critical role Head Start plays for low-income families who depend on these services to work and meet their financial obligations.
As the situation continues to unfold, the uncertainty surrounding federal funding for Head Start programs raises concerns about the potential impact on the vulnerable children and families they serve.