52,000 Head Start Families and Alumni Sign Letter Urging President Trump to Support and Strengthen Head Start Program

Alexandria, VA — On June 6, a letter signed by 52,000  Head Start families and alumni was delivered to the president of the United States with one simple message: Head Start has changed our lives. We urge you to support and strengthen it.

Representing all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, Palau, and American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and Nations, the signatories reflect Head Start’s broad support nationwide. This overwhelming show of support highlights the deep, multigenerational impact of Head Start, which has served families for 60 years and continues to be a lifeline for children and caregivers today. The letter comes at a critical moment as President Donald Trump and policymakers consider funding decisions that will shape the future of this vital program.

Every day, Head Start provides nearly 700,000 children and their families across the country with a safe, healthy place to learn that sets them up for success in school and in life. For generations, Head Start has given family members the opportunity to build stable homes, achieve economic self-sufficiency, and pursue their dreams. 

Head Start is one of the most cost-effective federal programs in our country, saving taxpayer dollars, strengthening our economy, and building more resilient communities. Any effort to cut or dismantle Head Start would undermine this proven investment in the nation’s future and should be firmly resisted.

“The president championed Head Start during his first term, providing critical resources to help families and their children build a strong foundation for lifelong success,” said Yasmina Vinci, executive director for the National Head Start Association. “This letter from families and alumni is a call to continue that commitment. Now is the time to protect and strengthen a vital program that works for children, for families, and for America’s future.”

Read the full letter to the president.