New Survey Finds Federal Delays Impact Head Start Children and Families

On the heels of last week’s announcement by the  Administration to dismantle Head Start by eliminating most of the quality standards and safety requirements, findings of new survey documenting the ongoing challenges caused by the Trump Administration’s disregard for Head Start grantees over the past 16 months. 

On April 1, 2025, the Federal Administration, through HHS, implemented significant workforce reductions affecting the federal employees who support Head Start grantees, including experienced regional staff who had provided oversight, technical assistance, and support to local programs for decades. These reductions followed the closure of five regional Office of Head Start offices and fundamentally changed the federal support structure that Head Start programs had relied on for nearly 60 years.

Workforce reductions hurt Head Start children and their programs.  This new national survey of Head Start leaders finds that workforce reductions and structural changes implemented by the HHS have significantly reduced the federal support capacity available to local Head Start programs, delaying critical services for thousands of young children and families across the country.

The survey, conducted by the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP (WSA) and Together for Head Start, includes responses from 157 Head Start grantees in 33 states serving more than 55,000 children and expectant families, including data from many Head Start grantees in Wisconsin. More than 75 percent of respondents reported that federal delays and the loss of regional support have directly affected children, families, and staff, while every respondent reported experiencing at least one significant federal approval delay that disrupted program operations.

“The termination of regional office staff has a ripple effect that has had dramatic impacts in Head Start Communities and the pain has been felt by Wisconsin children,” said Jennie Mauer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Head Start Association.  “The delays meant children waited longer for transportation, approvals for playgrounds languished, and contracts for repairs and supplies were severely delayed.  All of these delays are part of a larger pattern by this administration to deteriorate and undermine Head Start.”

Children Are Paying the Price

The survey makes clear that federal approval delays are not simply administrative issues. They are delaying services that directly affect children’s learning, health, nutrition, safety, and development.

Head Start directors across the country reported direct impacts on children and daily operations, including:

• Playgrounds remain closed while safety improvements wait for approval. 
  Programs reported months-long delays in repairing playgrounds, replacing roofs, upgrading HVAC systems, renovating kitchens, purchasing buildings, and completing other health and safety projects. Each month delay increases costs while children continue learning in aging facilities.

• Children are unable to get to school because buses remain tied up in federal approvals. 
  Programs reported replacement buses delayed for months—and in one case more than 18 months—preventing children from accessing preschool and delaying other critical improvements needed for safe learning environments.

• Children miss out on improved nutrition because routine purchases are delayed. 
  One program reported waiting months for approval to purchase a $2,000 commercial oven needed to prepare nutritious meals at a newly opened Head Start center.

One director wrote:

“Considering the impact of nutrition on brain development, I consider the impact to be sizable.”

Families are left waiting because programs cannot plan. 
Programs reported delayed enrollment decisions because routine federal approvals remain pending, making it difficult to determine which classrooms can open and how many children can be served. Some programs reported families leaving Head Start because of prolonged uncertainty.

Teachers are leaving because uncertainty has become the norm. 
Half of respondents reported that delayed federal decisions have affected hiring and staff retention, forcing some programs to issue layoff notices while others lost experienced teachers seeking greater stability.

This Is Not About the efficacy of Federal Employees—It Is About Administration’s Decision to Cut More Than 50 Percent of the Workforce

Survey respondents consistently praised the remaining career civil servants within the Office of Head Start, noting that they are working to support local programs despite significantly increased workloads and reduced staffing. Programs pointed to HHS decisions that eliminated experienced regional staff and reduced the federal capacity needed to provide timely guidance, technical assistance, and approvals to local communities. Many routine decisions and approvals are no longer allowed at the regional level and remain in limbo for months at the central office.

One director wrote:

“I think the remaining staff at OHS are doing the very best they can to support programs. It is very difficult to know that we have former staff at home on administrative leave who are being prevented from supporting the programs they care deeply about.”

Another noted:

“Our new specialist is overworked with too many programs to oversee.”

Following these changes, routine approvals that once took days or weeks now often take months. Programs reported frequent turnover among federal contacts, inconsistent guidance, and dramatically slower decision-making.

The survey found:

• 90% said the quality of federal support has declined.

• 79% reported increased administrative burden.

• Nearly half experienced multiple changes in their federal support staff.

• 100% experienced at least one significant federal approval delay affecting program operations.

The Solution Already Exists

Head Start has spent nearly 60 years building one of the nation’s most successful early childhood systems through strong partnerships between local programs and experienced federal regional staff.

Washington State Association, Together for Head Start, and the Wisconsin Head Start Association are calling on HHS to:

• Immediately return experienced regional Office of Head Start staff currently on administrative leave to active service.

• Restore decision-making authority to regional offices where experienced staff understand local communities and can respond quickly.

• Establish timely approval standards and consistent guidance so children and families no longer wait months for routine decisions.

• Work with Congress to rebuild the regional support structure that has helped make Head Start one of America’s most successful investments in young children.

“The dedicated federal employees who have supported Head Start for decades are not the problem,” Warren said. “The problem is that the federal infrastructure designed to support Head Start programs has been significantly weakened. When experienced regional staff are removed, routine decisions become bottlenecks—and children and families pay the price. This is a solvable problem. Restore experienced staff, empower them to do their jobs, and let Head Start programs get back to what they do best—helping children and families thrive.”

Survey at a Glance

• The survey was conducted June 1–12, 2026, by Together for Head Start and the Washington State Association of Head Start and ECEAP. 

• 157 Head Start grantees responded, representing 55,516 children and expectant parents served

• 33 states were represented

• More than 75% reported direct impacts on children, families, and staff

• 90% said federal support has declined

• 79% reported increased administrative burden

• 100% experienced at least one significant federal approval delay