Nearly 20,000 Children and Families Impacted by Delay in Accessing Federal Funds

Washington, D.C.–Over the last week, a growing number of Head Start grant recipients have reported significant delays in accessing approved grant funding. While most recipients have not had major disruptions, a large number of recipients still continue to receive ‘pending’ or ‘in process’ messages when they request to draw down funds from their grant. As a result, some Head Start grant recipients have closed down services, while others have been scrambling to leverage other funding sources to keep services running.

The National Head Start Association (NHSA) conducted a survey of Head Start grant recipients on February 4, 2025. The survey, which remains open, found that at least 45 grant recipients serving nearly 20,000 children ages zero to five and their families, are experiencing delays in accessing funds. This includes grant recipients in 23 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico and they collectively employ nearly 6,000 staff.

 “Head Start is a lifeline for children and families in their most urgent times of need. We urge President Donald Trump and the acting leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services to immediately address the issues behind the unnecessary delays in Head Start funding,” said NHSA’s Executive Director Yasmina Vinci. “While it remains unclear why this delay is happening, it must be resolved immediately or thousands of families and their children will be at risk of losing the critical early care and educational services they depend on to work, go to school, and develop.”

About the Head Start Grant Process

Head Start grant recipients are awarded a grant amount for a five-year timeframe. Each year within that time frame, grant recipients are required to submit a proposed plan for providing services to eligible children and families in their community. Once that yearly proposal is approved, grant recipients receive a Notice of Award and have access to the Payment Management System (PMS) where they are able to draw down from the awarded funds as  needed to pay rent, buy milk, meet payroll, and other operating expenses.