Head Start program directors and families are deeply concerned over a Trump administration proposal to cut its funding completely. The proposed change would impact more than 20,000 children and families in Tennessee.
The White House’s fiscal year 2026 funding blueprint does not allocate any money toward Head Start, among other social programs, according to a USA TODAY report.
The budget is not set in stone. Only Congress can approve budget appropriations and gets the final say on how the United States spends its money.
“No final funding decisions have been made,” said Rachel Cauley, a spokesperson for the White House Office of Management and Budget.
Executive Director of the National Head Start Association Yasmina Vinci said in a press release that a funding cut would be “catastrophic.”
“It would be a direct attack on our nation’s most at-risk children, their well-being, and their families,” Vinci said. “It would end early learning, meals, vision, hearing, developmental screenings and dental care for nearly 800,000 children. Communities nationwide would lose a vital foundation of their child and family support systems.”
What is Head Start?
From left, CAC’s Head Start excutives Oriana Howley, L.C. Porter, and Patricia Hardin raise a Head Start flag in June 1965.
Head Start is a program for low-income families that supports children from birth to age 5, according to the Office of the Administration for Children and Families. It is free for eligible children.
There are a few different Head Start Programs to serve children: Early Head Start programs, Head Start preschool programs, prenatal programs and home-based services. Head Start is most visible in preschool settings, where the program helps to prepare kids for kindergarten.
The programs offer education and health services for kids, such as immunizations, dental, medical, and mental health support, nutritional services and more. The program includes family involvement.
Which president started the Head Start program?
President Lyndon B. Johnson started the Head Start program in 1965 as a part of the war on poverty. Originally, the program was an eight-week demonstration project designed to help break the cycle of poverty.
Since its conception, the program has served more than 38 million children, according to the Office of Head Start.
Is Head Start still operating?
Yes. The leaked proposal to take away federal funding for Head Start would need to be approved by Congress in a budget proposal, which has not happened.
What is the maximum income to qualify for Head Start?
The income cap for Head Start varies in Tennessee, depending on how many people are in a family. Eligibility for the Head Start program is aligned with the Health and Human Services 2025 poverty guidelines.
If a child has a diagnosed disability, they may qualify for enrollment in Head Start regardless of household income.
How do I claim my Head Start program?
You can apply for the Head Start Program through your local program. Find a list of Tennessee Head Start programs at headstart.gov.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: 2026 federal budget proposal has no money for Head Start. What to know