Head Start Funding Freeze Causes Error Messages, Providers Worry

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Head Start Funding Freeze Causes Error Messages, Providers Worry
HEAD STARTFUNDING FREEZETECHNICAL ISSUES
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Head Start providers nationwide are experiencing technical difficulties accessing funding accounts, leading to delays in receiving critical funds. This issue stems from a recent OMB memo on temporarily pausing federal grants, which has since been blocked by federal courts. While the administration claims the technical glitch is resolved, providers remain concerned about the ongoing impact on their ability to serve families.

Head Start providers in numerous states are encountering error messages when attempting to access their accounts used for requesting funding disbursements. Tommy Sheridan, a deputy director at the National Head Start Association, disclosed to HuffPost that at least 40 programs have sought funds but haven't received them.

Over 1,600 local Head Start organizations nationwide rely on Department of Health and Human Services grants to deliver early education and other essential services to families with young children. Organizations receive annual funding approval but draw down the money as needed.Technical processing issues stemming from last week are likely causing the delay. A senior administration official assured HuffPost that the issue has been resolved and any persisting error messages reported by Head Start providers are a consequence of the backlog in payment approvals resulting from the technical glitch. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had instructed federal agencies to temporarily halt grants and loans last week, with exceptions for Social Security, Medicare, and direct assistance to individuals. However, two federal courts have since blocked the pause, and the Justice Department has clarified that federal agencies must adhere to the court orders. A significant document issued by the Justice Department emphasized that federal agencies cannot suspend, freeze, impede, block, cancel, or terminate any grants or obligations based on the OMB Memo or the President's recent Executive Orders. This stance signifies the federal government's cooperation with the court order, contrasting with the Trump administration's ambiguous signals regarding the funding freeze and its inclination towards confrontation with other federal entities. Head Start grants amount to approximately $12 billion annually, benefiting about 800,000 families with young children, making it a relatively modest federal program. Head Start generally enjoys broad bipartisan support aimed at safeguarding it from budget cuts. However, the Heritage Foundation think tank's Project 2025, widely perceived as a roadmap for a potential second Trump administration, proposed the elimination of Head Start.Joel Ryan, director of Washington's association of Head Start providers, informed HuffPost that providers in his state have not discontinued any services despite their inability to access funds. He expressed skepticism that the issue was purely accidental. Ryan stated, 'They may be attempting to rectify it, but I don't view this as a situation where a career bureaucrat at HHS made a mistake. They imposed a funding freeze on programs like Head Start, and there was a massive public outcry. They're continuing to try and resolve it, but they haven't fully succeeded.

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HEAD START FUNDING FREEZE TECHNICAL ISSUES OMB FEDERAL COURTS EARLY EDUCATION CHILD CARE

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