As a preschool nurse who works every day with the youngest and most vulnerable members of our communities, I have seen firsthand how Head Start transforms lives. It is more than just an early childhood education program. It is a comprehensive support system that helps children thrive, families grow stronger, and communities build resilience.

That’s why the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle Head Start, through proposed funding elimination, grant delays, and administrative disruption, are not just alarming. They are heartbreaking. They represent an attack on the very foundations of equity, access, and opportunity for children across our country.

A Direct Hit: Eliminating Federal Funding for Head Start

The administration’s proposal to eliminate all federal funding for Head Start strikes at the heart of the program’s mission. Head Start was created to ensure that low-income children have the same early learning opportunities as their more affluent peers. Without federal support, Head Start would cease to exist for hundreds of thousands of children. States would be left scrambling to fill the gap, if they could or would at all.

For many families, especially those living in poverty, rural communities, or historically underserved areas, there are no backup options. There are no “alternatives.” Eliminating Head Start funding would not only remove access to education but also cut children off from vital services that support their physical, emotional, and developmental health.

Quiet Sabotage: Delaying and Withholding Funds

Even before proposing the elimination of funding, the Trump administration engaged in quieter but equally devastating tactics. Nearly $1 billion in already-approved Head Start grants have been delayed or withheld, destabilizing programs that families rely on for stability and care.

These funding disruptions have forced centers to close temporarily, lay off staff, and suspend services. Imagine the panic of a parent who depends on Head Start to care for their child while they work, suddenly finding the doors locked with no warning. Imagine the heartbreak of a teacher or nurse who has dedicated their career to this work, only to be told they no longer have a job.

These are not abstract policy decisions. They have real, painful consequences for real people every day.

Gutting Support: Layoffs and Closures of Federal Offices

The administrative infrastructure that keeps Head Start running smoothly has also been gutted. Federal staff who oversee Head Start grants, provide technical assistance, and ensure program compliance have been laid off. Regional offices have been closed, leaving local programs with no one to turn to for urgent support or problem-solving.

Without that critical federal oversight and partnership, Head Start centers are left adrift, trying to navigate complex regulations and challenges without the lifeline they once had.

The Fallout for Families and Children

The effects of these attacks on Head Start would be nothing short of catastrophic:

• Loss of Early Education: Over 750,000 children would lose access to early childhood education that prepares them for success in kindergarten and beyond.

• Loss of Child Care: Millions of parents who rely on Head Start to work or go to school would be forced to make impossible choices between caring for their children and providing for their families.

• Loss of Health Services: Children would lose access to nutritious meals, developmental screenings, dental care, and mental health support—all services that Head Start provides as part of its holistic approach to child development.

• Widening Inequities: The gap between rich and poor, between privileged and marginalized, would grow even wider, reversing decades of progress toward educational and health equity.

The Impact on Preschool Nurses Like Me

As a preschool nurse, I see how critical our role is in the success of every Head Start classroom. We conduct health screenings that catch vision problems before they interfere with learning. We manage chronic conditions like asthma and diabetes. We administer medications, provide first aid, and partner with families to address complex health needs.

If Head Start funding is eliminated:

• Preschool nurses will lose their jobs.

• Children will lose a critical line of defense for their health and well-being.

• Families will lose trusted partners in caring for their children’s medical needs.

• Communities will see a rise in preventable health issues, exacerbating already serious disparities.

We are not just extras or add-ons. We are essential. We are woven into the very fabric of what makes Head Start so successful—and so necessary.

This Is a Public Health Crisis in the Making

Make no mistake: eliminating Head Start would not only set back early childhood education, it would also ignite a public health crisis. Immunizations would lapse. Undiagnosed developmental delays would go untreated. Nutrition gaps would widen. Family stress would rise, with consequences that ripple outward into school systems, workplaces, and healthcare settings for years to come.

The damage would not be confined to one program or one group of children. It would weaken the foundation of our entire future.

Why We Must Speak Out

I am writing this because we cannot afford to be silent. Not now. Not when the future of so many children and families hangs in the balance.

As school nurses, educators, parents, and advocates, we must demand that our leaders protect Head Start, strengthen it, and ensure that every child, regardless of their zip code or income, has the chance to thrive.

Our children deserve better. Our families deserve better. Our country deserves better.

References:

AP: White House proposes eliminating Head Start funding as part of sweeping budget cuts

Education Week: White House Proposes Eliminating Head Start Funding in Sweeping Budget Cuts

USA Today: Exclusive: Trump budget proposal would fully eliminate Head Start