Shutdown 2025: Impact On Head Start Programs

Federal funding for Head Start programs is dispersed on a staggered grant cycle, meaning different programs receive their funding at different times throughout the year. (One Head Start program may operate multiple Head Start sites, each with a set number of “funded slots” available for eligible children.) During a shutdown, this funding is not dispersed, putting many Head Start programs in immediate jeopardy of closing their doors.

• When the federal shutdown began on October 1st, 6 Head Start programs did not receive their operational funding. These programs are in 3 states and serve 6,525 young children.
• If the shutdown persists, on November 1st, 134 Head Start programs will not receive their operational funding. These programs are in 41 states and Puerto Rico and serve 58,627 children.
• This means that, as of November 1st, a total of 140 programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico will not have received their funding, with a potential impact on 65,152 young children.

When Head Start programs are forced to close, children lose access to the care, early learning, nutrition, and stability Head Start provides. Below you’ll find a map and chart showing what this looks like at the state level, as well as stories from local, state, and national news sources as they cover the impact.

News Coverage

• National: Associated Press Government shutdown imperils dozens of Head Start preschool programs
• National: NBC News Head Start programs flash red lights ahead of November funding cliff
• National: K-12 Dive Head Start advocates warn shutdown will harm early learning programs
• Arkansas: NBC4 UAMS to temporarily close locations for early childhood education program, cites lack of federal funding caused by shutdown
• California: Mendocino Voice Head Start programs in Mendocino, Lake counties to remain open during shutdown 
• Colorado: ABC7 Federal shutdown threatens Colorado early child care centers, putting 1,300 kids and their families at risk
• Florida: WCTV Head Start programs in Tallahassee face uncertainty as government shutdown continues
• Florida: WTXL Head Start services in Florida at risk as government shutdown continues
• Florida: Central Florida Public Media Some Central Florida Head Start centers could close amidst shutdown
• Georgia: Axios Atlanta Federal shutdown in Georgia: housing, food stamps and public health affected
• Indiana: WANE Federal government shutdown puts Head Start programs at risk
• Iowa: SW Iowa News Record-long govt shutdown threatens food, early childhood education assistance
• Minnesota: MinnPost The shutdown threatened to close dozens of Head Start centers. Then the state stepped in.
• Missouri: KCUR Thousands of Kansas City kids could lose Head Start programs if government shutdown drags on
• Missouri: KCTV5 ‘Cruel to families’: 2,300 vulnerable Kansas City children at risk amid government shutdown 
• Missouri: KFVS Head Start program concerns rise amid shutdown; southeast Missouri stable for now
• North Carolina: ABC11 Early Head Start program in Durham at risk as government shutdown continues: ‘We need it to end’
• Ohio: Times-Gazette Shutdown puts local Head Start program at risk
• Ohio: Sidney Daily News Head Start keeping eye on government shutdown
• Ohio: Fox19 Early childhood programs could face funding crisis due to government shutdown
• Oklahoma: Oklahoma Voices Oklahoma Head Start centers face ‘dire’ funding loss from government shutdown
• Oregon: The Oregonian Government shutdown puts Oregon preschool programs in jeopardy
• Pennsylvania: ABC16 Local Head Start programs concerned about funding amid state budget impasse, government shutdown
• West Virginia: WV News Shutdown threatens Head Start programs, national association warns

Map and Chart

DownloadFederal Shutdown, 2025 Funding and Head Start Programs OctNov (465.12 kB)