Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced legislation Friday to restore funding for Head Start programs impacted by the ongoing federal government shutdown. The Keep Head Start Funding Act of 2025 would guarantee continued operations for the early childhood education program even when Congress fails to pass funding bills.
The measure would take effect retroactively from Sept. 30, when the shutdown began.
At least 140 Head Start programs serving 65,000 children have been left without federal funds since October, according to the National Head Start Association. Twenty programs have already closed, affecting nearly 10,000 children.
Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin introduced a bill Friday to restore funding for Head Start programs during the ongoing government shutdown. https://t.co/1uCZkz4EUL
— Donna Bonilla (@flmkrD) November 7, 2025
Baldwin said the bill aims to provide families with certainty amid Washington’s gridlock.
Shutdown-related closures have hit communities in Wisconsin and Florida particularly hard, forcing programs to rely on donations and local aid to stay open.
“There’s bipartisan support for Head Start because it works,” said NHSA Director Yasmina Vinci.
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