WASHINGTON, DC— Today, U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA-08), along with 33 of his colleagues, sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of Head Start (OHS) demanding that they immediately address delayed Head Start funds and ensure that Head Start programs expeditiously receive the funds they are owed.
This delay in available funds comes as Donald Trump and Republicans continue to push an illegal scheme to choke the federal government of all funding, the country’s largest federal early education program, Head Start. Head Start centers across the country have yet to receive crucial funding to meet their end-of-the-month expenses, including rent, utilities, payroll, and insurance. Without receiving these payments, some programs could have to furlough employees and shut their doors as early as tomorrow, January 31. The Trump Administration’s unconstitutional threat of a federal funding pause has caused chaos, confusion, and fear for our Head Start centers, and the ongoing fallout could deprive thousands of low-income children and their families of much-needed childcare.
“Within the chaotic confusion of Donald Trump’s unconstitutional freeze on all federal funding, Head Start centers in our district and across the country are still in desperate need of the funds they’re owed,” said Rep. Garamendi. “Head Start programs operate on incredibly tight budgets, and they depend on timely and reliable disbursement of federal funds to pay their operating expenses. Centers across the country are in desperate need of these funds as they face imminent deadlines to pay their employees as well as their rent, utilities, and insurance bills. Without the immediate disbursement of these funds, some centers will have to temporarily close, leaving low-income children and families to suffer. The Administration must provide payments and guidance quickly so that these centers can remain open and allow our children to continue to learn and thrive.”
The office of Rep. John Garamendi sent this letter after learning that Head Start centers that submitted funding requests from January 23 through January 27 have yet to receive their requested payments. These requests are typically approved within 24 hours. In addition, several Head Start programs with February 1 grant renewal dates have yet to receive a Notice of Award for their February 1 funding. Without this Notice, some programs will be unable to open on Monday, February 3. These delays coincided with Donald Trump’s unconstitutional and dangerous move to freeze all federal funding, causing further confusion for programs nationwide.
Since 1965, Head Start has provided over 39 million children from low-income families with high-quality early education and skills. Additionally, these locally run programs provide children and their families with health and nutrition services. Nationwide, Head Start serves over 800,000 children annually, including nearly 95,000 in California.
You can read the full text of the letter HERE.
Related
- Jan 29 – Garamendi Introduces Bill Expanding Early Education Eligibility for California Families
- Jan 20 – President Donald Trump Issues Series of Executive Orders
- Jan 20 – President Donald Trump’s America First Priorities
