LETTER: Next federal budget could eliminate Vermont Head Start programs

April 20, 2025 | By Christy Swenson 

To the Community: 

On Friday, April 11, USA Today reported that President Trump’s upcoming budget will propose the full-scale elimination of the nearly 60-year-old, highly effective Head Start program in alignment with the Project 2025 blueprint. 

This proposal follows the shuttering of half of the federal Office of Head Start regional offices on April 1, including our local office in Boston. Though the budget has not yet been released, this potential proposed elimination would be catastrophic for working families, vulnerable young children, and Head Start employees.  

More than 1,200 Vermont children would lose access to early learning, nutrition, health, dental, and developmental screenings if Head Start were eliminated. Research demonstrates that children enrolled in Head Start programs are more likely to complete high school, more likely to enroll in and complete college, less likely to be arrested, less likely to enter foster care, and less likely to experience poor health when compared to similar peers.  

Let’s Grow Kids estimates that 10,615 childcare slots need to be added in Vermont for the supply to meet demand, as stated in their 2024 Stalled at the Start Report. Reducing the present supply by over 1,000 slots will not help that need. Losing Head Start would mean lost jobs – not just for teachers and staff – but also for working families who rely on this support system.  

The president’s budget proposal is simply that – a proposal – and it must go through  Congress and the appropriations process before it becomes finalized. While we are confident that Congress will maintain our nation’s commitment to children and families who are at risk, we hope President Trump and the administration will change course and stand up for working parents by backing the Head Start programs that allow them to pursue employment and/or schooling. Every U.S. President over the last 60 years, including President Trump in his first term, supported children and families with low incomes by funding and strengthening Head Start.  

Christy Swenson, chair 

Vermont Head Start Association  

cswenson@capstonevt.org