Over the past several months, Head Start programs and other federal programs that provide critical services to children, families and communities across the country have been hit with a wave of challenges that threaten their ability to serve. From a temporary federal funding freeze and prolonged communication delays to the abrupt closure of several regional offices, and policy changes, these disruptions have created deep uncertainty—diverting time and energy away from what matters most: supporting nearly 700,000 young children and their families.
The recently proposed Fiscal Year 2026 federal budget offered another blow: flat funding for Head Start. However, just last week, thanks in part to the incredible advocacy efforts of the national Head Start community and its supporters, the Senate Appropriations Committee proposed to fund the program at $12.36 billion, an $85 million increase over fiscal year 2025. Although this is a hopeful sign for the future, the proposed budget represents less than a 1% increase, which is far short of the full adjustment needed to maintain Head Start services given rising operational costs and growing demand. If the budget is approved as is, Head Start programs will be forced to make impossible choices for their children, their families, and their teachers.
