On April 3, the White House released the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget proposal. As champions for early learning, Start Early is deeply concerned that the proposed funding levels for key programs will result in fewer children and families accessing critical supports.
The proposal’s funding cuts and eliminations are at odds with the administration’s stated commitment to supporting families and expanding opportunity. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously stated to the Senate HELP Committee on the administration’s vision for the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS): “Let me be clear: we intend to make the Trump HHS not just the most effective but also the most compassionate in U.S. history.” Similarly, the President recently stated, regarding the Department of Education (ED), “America’s future relies on empowered families and excellent educational opportunities for every child.”
In contrast to those sentiments, the budget reduces or underfunds essential programs that help families access child care, health care, and early learning—services that are foundational to strong communities and a thriving economy.
Key concerns include:
- Head Start: We are disappointed that the President’s FY2027 budget proposal does not include an increase for the federal Head Start program. Flat funding is a cut to Head Start, as programs face rising costs for everything from rent and utilities to payroll and health insurance. Combined with the proposed elimination of the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) and Preschool Development Grant Birth-5 (PDG B-5), this will strain the ability of approximately 1,600 Head Start programs to operate. The result: fewer children served and fewer opportunities for Head Start to connect them with access to early education, home visiting, and Early Intervention services.
- Home Visiting & Maternal Health: The proposal reduces funding for the Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention Program and would eliminate Healthy Start, and critical maternal and infant health efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These cuts would weaken support systems for families during pregnancy and early childhood—when they matter most.
- Services for Children with Disabilities: While the proposal includes a modest increase for Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) grants for infants and toddlers, overall funding remains far below what is needed to meet demand. Moreover, the President’s budget proposes to consolidate IDEA Part B 619 funds into a single formula grant to states and effectively eliminates dedicated funding for the Part D budget lines dedicated to personnel training and development. This consolidation could result in less funding available to infants and toddlers overall as part of the IDEA entitlement program. These concerns are compounded by continued efforts to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, which is further destabilizing programs and systems that families with young children with disabilities rely on.
