Article Summary –
Nine Michigan Head Start programs, serving 3,000 children, are without federal funding due to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, causing some to close or struggle to remain open. This has left parents scrambling for child care alternatives and placed financial strain on staff, exacerbating challenges for families already affected by the lack of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The ongoing shutdown results from a stalemate in Congress, with Democrats opposing a Republican spending plan that would let tax credits for Affordable Care Act premiums expire, making health insurance unaffordable for many.
Nine Michigan Head Start programs are without vital funding as the federal shutdown that began on Oct. 1 continues.
The programs, serving 3,000 children, anticipated grant funds on Nov. 1, marking the longest U.S. government shutdown. The Gogebic-Ontonagon Community Action Agency’s Head Start program, assisting 115 children in the Upper Peninsula, closed temporarily until funds are restored. Others struggle to remain operational.
“Without that funding, agencies must suspend services or shut down,” said Tricia Grifka, president of the Michigan Head Start Association, at a Nov. 5 press conference. “This means closed classrooms, furloughed teachers, and parents searching for unavailable or unaffordable care.”
Local Head Start leaders gathered virtually to highlight the funding gap’s impact on child care accessibility, compelling parents to seek alternatives and leaving staff uncertain about pay.
Michigan has 48 Head Start programs aiding nearly 30,000 children, primarily from low-income families. These centers offer educational opportunities and access to essential services like health screenings and mental health support.
“Parents are terrified of losing care and the progress their children have made,” said Grifka, who also directs early childhood services at the Northeast Michigan Community Service Agency. “One mother shared her fear of losing the environment where her son, who previously struggled with speech, has thrived.”
The Community Action Alger-Marquette program in the Upper Peninsula plans to keep its Head Start open until Nov. 14 with alternative funds, according to executive director Michelle LaJoie. It serves 256 children and is often the sole local child care provider.
“For some, losing Head Start means losing their only option,” LaJoie said.
These programs receive over $423 million in federal funding, Grifka noted, “supporting jobs, families, and local economies.”
“When Head Start closes, the entire community feels it,” Grifka said. “Staff layoffs affect local businesses and disrupt the broader economy. It’s more than an education issue; it’s about economic and community stability.”
Head Start leaders noted the funding lapse’s timing as families struggle without expected Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due Nov. 1.
SNAP, affected by the shutdown, was stalled by the Trump administration, but a U.S. District Judge ordered full payments by Nov. 7, while an appeals court emergency pause is sought. Over 1.4 million in Michigan rely on SNAP, including one in five children.
As temperatures drop, agencies worry about families needing winter assistance, including food banks and housing support.
Head Start staff face uncertainty about pay during the holidays.
“Staff are stressed about their job security and holiday spending,” said Susan Harding, CEO of Oakland Livingston Human Service Agency. “The holiday season brings challenges even for nonprofit workers wanting to provide for their families.”
Harding’s agency’s grant renews on Jan. 1, so it remains open but faces constraints without funding certainty for 2026. Planning continues in case the shutdown persists into the new year.
As of Nov. 7, the Senate failed 14 times to end the shutdown. While Republicans lead Congress, Democratic support is necessary for Senate spending bills. Democrats resist the Republican plan, opposing the expiration of ACA tax credits crucial for affordable health insurance.
Grifka warns of further damage if Head Start funding remains withheld.
“Continuing closures exacerbate harm. More families and children suffer, and communities lose trusted support,” Grifka said. “Swift government action is crucial to prevent this.”
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