Trumps budget proposal would put Head Start programs in jeopardy according to AP sources

ILLINOIS(KBSI) – Budget cuts continue under the Trump Administration that could lead to complete overhaul of a more than 60-year-old program.

Under the newest proposal cuts could be seen to programs like Head Start, a program established in 1965 that provides services such as education, healthcare, meals, social support and more to children from birth to age 5.

The Trump Administration is asking Congress to make budget cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services which could potentially eliminate the Head Start program completely.

Educators are saying if this were to happen the outcome would be detrimental to early childhood education.

Shawnna Rhine is the Community Outreach Coordinator of the Southern Seven Health Department in Illinois. She shares that the Head Start program plays an essential role for vulnerable families. The Head Start program currently serves about 750,000 children each year. Not only does the program provide essential early intervention to needy families but taking away the program could have big impacts on already existing childcare shortages. 

“Head start goes beyond the first 5 years for a child, it goes with them for the rest of their lives and the whole program is designed to help them, and their families thrive” says Rhine. This is a program that’s been around for more than 60 years. It is proven to be affective in getting kids out of poverty and their families so whatever funding cuts, whatever they might be, could be very detrimental to the folks in our region.”  

According to documents obtained by the Associated Press the budget cut proposal is part of a 64-page draft budget for fiscal year 2026 drafted by the Trump Administration. 

“What we want people to imagine is what life would be like if we didn’t have access to the developmental screenings such as for autism or for other issues and delays that children go through” says Rhine. 

Now App user and mom Georgia Bommarito weighs in on the proposal. 

“My children right now are still too young to be in school to get head start services, but I think every child deserves a strong start regardless of their zip code and we should be investing in them not cutting them off.” 

It’s important to note that currently the draft is only a proposal and its unknown at this time if or when congress will approve the proposal.

At this time Head Start programs are continuing to run as normal.