Pa. among states suing Trump administration over funding cuts to Head Start

Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Apr 29, 2025 5:35 PM


The Pennsylvania Head Start Association and several advocacy groups are suing the Trump administration over what they allege is an unlawful attempt to dismantle Head Start, a federal program that serves more than 800,000 of the nation’s most vulnerable children.

The lawsuit, filed Monday in the Western District of Washington, comes after the administration has already slashed Head Start staff, shuttered half the program’s regional offices and delayed funding — actions that require congressional approval, the suit alleges.

“Families deserve to know that the agencies they rely on — and the staff they trust with their young children — are protected,” said Kara McFalls, executive director of the Pennsylvania Head Start Association, in a statement Monday. “Efforts to dismantle Head Start are unacceptable and undermine the strength and well-being of every community.”

The plaintiffs include the Head Start associations of Pennsylvania, Washington and Illinois, along with advocacy groups Parent Voices Oakland and Family Forward Oregon. They are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Washington, the ACLU of Illinois and the Impact Fund.

Read more: https://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2025/04/29/head-start-lawsuit-trump-hhs-cuts/stories/202504290072