On April 1, 2025. in a move to save $1.8 billion through mass layoffs in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). the agency closed five Office of Head Start regional offices in Boston, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle. The closed offices will be consolidated into the five remaining offices. Due to the closures and a number of federal staff reductions and proposed budget cuts to programs supporting low-income families, early childhood education advocates are predicting devastating impacts on young children,. including the risk of abuse and other safety threats. The Trump administration says spending cuts at HHS and across the federal government are needed to reduce the country’s deficit and eliminate fiscal bloat and waste in federal agencies.
According to K-12 Dive, the National Head Start Association, a nonprofit that represents children, families and educators, has urged the Trump administration to reconsider the office closures until a plan can be created and disseminated. In fact, according to the Office of Head Start, in fiscal year 2023 the program was funded at $11.5 billion to serve 778,420 children and pregnant people in centers and through home-based programs.
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