Trump administration proposes overhaul of Head Start, capping admin costs at 5%

Published Aug 6, 04:11 PM UTC

The Trump administration, via the Department of Health and Human Services, has proposed a sweeping overhaul of the Head Start early childhood education program. The proposed rule would cap administrative overhead at 5% (down from 15%), saving an estimated $2.2 billion, and grant states authority to set standards on class size, staff ratios, education requirements, and background checks. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed the changes would reduce burdensome paperwork that led to a loss of 100,000 slots under Biden. Critics, including Vox's Rachel Cohen Booth and Yvette Sanchez-Fuentes of Start Early, argue the cuts will lead to larger class sizes, fewer qualified staff, reduced health and family services, and harm support for children with disabilities. HHS says savings will be reinvested to preserve or expand spots for over 200,000 children, but Democrats have condemned the rule as an attack on children and vowed to fight it. The program currently serves more than 700,000 children with education, nutrition, and family support services.