By MORIAH BALINGIT, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a significant judicial intervention, a federal judge has halted the Trump administration’s changes to the Head Start program, particularly its attempts to eliminate terms associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion from grant documentation. The ruling also prevents further layoffs of federal employees within the Office of Head Start.
This decision arises from a lawsuit initiated in April against the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other officials. The suit contends that the administration is unlawfully dismantling Head Start by closing federal offices and reducing staff by half. It further disputes the administration’s initiatives to exclude undocumented children from the program and to prohibit language indicative of DEI.
According to court documents, Head Start providers and parent organizations reported that a Wisconsin Head Start director was instructed to remove “race,” “belonging,” and “pregnant people” from a grant proposal. Subsequently, nearly 200 discouraged terms, such as “Black,” “Native American,” “disability,” and “women,” were listed by department officials.
A spokesperson from Health and Human Services declined to comment on the judicial order.
Established in the 1960s during President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, Head Start is a critical education and family support initiative targeting children from low-income families, foster care, or those experiencing homelessness. While federally funded, it is managed by local nonprofits, schools, and governments.
Joel Ryan, leader of the Washington State Head Start & Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, expressed relief at the court’s decision, saying it prevents unjust funding cuts to Head Start centers.
“When a Head Start program has their funding withheld because of their efforts to provide effective education to children with autism, serve tribal members on a reservation, or treat all families with respect, it is an attack on the fundamental promise of the Head Start program,” Ryan stated.
The directive concerning prohibited words has created uncertainty for Head Start directors, who must detail their funding use in grant applications and are legally obligated to report demographic data on the families served. A director from Washington state revealed in court filings that the guidance forced her to cancel training for supporting children with autism and trauma.
U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez’s order, issued from Seattle, prevents Health and Human Services from further employee reductions and from penalizing Head Start providers for using the banned language.
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