The Federal Shutdown Threatens Head Start --   Congress Must Act Now

The federal government shutdown is putting Head Start programs--and the children and families they serve--at immediate risk. Congress must act now to pass a full FY26 budget or a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) the President will sign to restore funding and end the shutdown.

Because of the way Head Start grants are structured, seven Ohio Head Start providers--serving 3,738 children--are facing closure decisions as of November 1 if the shutdown continues. That means thousands of working parents could lose the reliable child care they depend on to stay employed--and 940 staff could lose their paychecks and ability to support their own families.

Each day of inaction deepens the harm.

Head Start closures or service interruptions disrupt family stability, interrupt learning, and cut off access to nutritious meals, health screenings, and other vital supports. Ohio's working families cannot afford this uncertainty.

We need your voice--loud, unified, and persistent.

Tell Congress: