President Donald Trump’s proposed budget is expected to eliminate Head Start, the federal program that provides free or low-cost child care to low-income families.
Head Start serves 12,000 children in Minnesota, mostly in rural areas, said Kraig Gratke, executive director of the Minnesota Head Start Association. Republicans and Democrats alike have supported Head Start. In 2024, Minnesota U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber and dozens of his Republican colleagues wrote a letter to congressional budget leaders urging them to prioritize funding for Head Start.
Head Start is funded through Sept. 30, but would expire Oct. 1 if Trump’s proposed budget is passed.
“It’s unconscionable to me to think about taking away critical supports that help families raise their children,” said U.S. Rep. Kelly Morrison, D-Minn., at a press conference denouncing the proposed cuts.
Minnesota is facing a crisis of child care availability and affordability; the state has some of the highest child care costs in the nation.
Gratke said Minnesota Head Start is already feeling the impact of cuts. The Department of Health and Human Services closed six regional offices, including one in Chicago, which was Minnesota’s point of contact for Head Start and other federal programs. In early April, many Head Start staffers were laid off.
Families that qualify for Head Start also qualify for the similar state Child Care Assistance Program, or CCAP — so Head Start saves the state around $65 million per year by using federal resources to serve families who would otherwise rely on state assistance, Gratke said.
Head Start employs 3,200 people in Minnesota. Eight tribal nations have Head Start centers.
“These are very hard pills to swallow when we’re already dealing with a lot of economic issues and folks are struggling,” Gratke said. Trump is expected to release his full budget proposal as soon as next week.
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