In rural Salamanca, New York, nearly 200 children lost access to early education overnight. A sudden federal funding freeze forced the local Head Start program to shut its doors, laying off 84 staff and leaving families scrambling. Though the freeze was temporary, the damage was lasting — a stark reminder that even short lapses in federal support can devastate communities that rely on it.

Now, the Trump administration is targeting our youngest learners by undermining funding and access to Head Start, and doubling down on their anti-immigrant agenda.

Head Start serves nearly 43,000 children and families in New York every year, providing high-quality early learning for children from low-income backgrounds, from birth to age five. The program also partners closely with parents through shared decision-making and collaboration. Programs do not collect information on families’ immigration statuses, thus serving as a trusted partner in supporting children.

But that trust — and the program itself — is at risk.

Federal Threats Put Head Start at Risk

Head Start relies almost entirely on federal funding. When the Trump administration threatened to eliminate the program this spring, alarm spread fast. While that specific threat has since eased, the uncertainty hasn’t.

Recent actions and proposals include:

• Project 2025 called for the elimination of Head Start.
• The Trump administration illegally withheld nearly $1 billion in Head Start funds in the spring.
• The U.S. The Health and Human Services Secretary abruptly closed five of the 10 regional Head Start offices across the country. These offices provided funding allocation, technical assistance, and other essential support to programs in 23 states, including New York. Employees in the remaining regional offices have had to absorb workloads, leaving staff overwhelmed impacting programs’ ability to run.
• The Trump administration banned undocumented preschoolers from Head Start.
• The Trump administration’s immigration policy allows Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in “protected areas,” meaning ICE can now enter protected spaces such as churches, schools, and hospitals.

These actions aren’t just isolated policy choices. The administration designed them to block children from a strong, equitable start to their education journey. Since late 2023, approximately 190,370 immigrants — many of whom are fleeing violence — have arrived in New York. That includes more than 33,000 children — more than a quarter of whom are babies and toddlers under four, the very age group Head Start serves.

How New York is Fighting Back and Defending Opportunity

New York State has taken the lead nationally, and partnered with other states, to defend Head Start programming and New York City has moved to sustain funding. Here’s how:

• The state sued the federal government, leading a 21-state coalition to challenge the Trump administration’s attempts to dismantle programs like Head Start. As a result, the ban on undocumented children is currently paused in New York and in the other states that joined the lawsuit. This pause is voluntary — not court ordered — and could be reversed at any time. The pause is set to last through September 11 while the case proceeds.
• New York City committed $167 million in early childhood funding, restoring access to 3-K and preschool seats for children with disabilities. Anticipating federal cuts, the City also stepped in to temporarily fund some Head Start programs locally.

What’s Next: How New York Can Double Down on Equity

With threats mounting against Head Start and immigrant children’s rights to education, the state should:

• Expand and protect early childhood programs: In recent years, New York State has made strides in expanding access to child care assistance. Programs like 3-K and Pre-K already serve undocumented children throughout the state. Programs like Promise NYC offer child care to undocumented families. While not entirely modeled on Head Start, these city-funded programs show what’s possible when equity is prioritized. New York should invest in universal child care and prioritize access to immigrant families and families from low-income backgrounds.
• Encourage and invest in family-facing and immigrant-serving organizations: Community-Based Organizations can expand outreach about Head Start and other early childhood programs that families may be eligible for. These efforts can combat misinformation.
• Pass the New York for All Act in a special session: This law would bar local and state agencies from participating in federal immigration enforcement except where explicitly required by law. This law would help ensure immigrant families feel safe enrolling their children in early education.
• Secure the right to public education for all students, regardless of immigration status: Banning undocumented children from Head Start sets a dangerous precedent. It could erode the protections of Plyler v. Doe, the landmark 1982 decision guaranteeing public K-12 education to all children. New York leaders must pass legislation that cements this right into state law.

Strong early childhood education sets children up for future success. The Trump administration’s attacks on Head Start are about more than budgets — they’re about who gets to belong. If New York fails to act, the consequences will last for generations. But if we lead boldly, the state can preserve opportunities for children from low-income backgrounds and immigrant families.

About the blog series: When federal leaders make decisions about education and our communities, they don’t stop in D.C. — they land in New York communities. The #DCChoicesNYVoices blog series breaks down how federal threats are reshaping access and opportunity for students and families across the state. Read more here.