Article Summary –
President Trump’s federal funding freeze caused significant financial strain for Wisconsin Head Start programs, forcing Western Dairyland Head Start to use $350,000 of discretionary funds to meet payroll obligations. Despite the rescinding of the freeze, delays in fund disbursement persist, leading program director Thanh Bui-Duquette to reconsider the timing of future fund requests. Families and employees of Head Start, including family advocate Brenda Mateo, emphasize the program’s critical role in providing affordable child care, highlighting the severe impact that funding cuts or a federal government shutdown could have on low-income families who rely on these services.
More than a month after President Trump’s unexpected federal funding freeze, Wisconsin Head Start administrators, staff, and families are still grappling with its impact and are anxious about what lies ahead.
The Trump administration issued a memo on Jan. 27 freezing federal spending authorized by Congress. After Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and 22 other state attorneys general filed a lawsuit, the administration withdrew the memo, yet maintained its funding freeze. A federal judge in Rhode Island issued a temporary restraining order blocking the freeze on Jan. 31, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit upheld the ruling on Feb. 11.
The funding freeze coincided with a payroll week for Western Dairyland Head Start, which manages several centers in western Wisconsin. Thanh Bui-Duquette, the program’s director, explained that their payment system for federal reimbursements went offline that day, and even after the memo’s withdrawal, funding delays persisted.
Bui-Duquette, with 13 years in the role, described, “Typically, we receive funds within one or two days after a drawdown request. This time, funds were delayed until the following Wednesday, despite contacting the Office of Head Start, the payment management system, and elected officials. We had to use discretionary funds to cover payroll.”
Ultimately, Western Dairyland utilized approximately $350,000 of discretionary funds for payroll. Bui-Duquette expressed concern about potential financial strain if delays had continued.
She noted, “We don’t have unlimited discretionary funds. If the delay had prolonged, we might have had to make tough programming decisions.”
Bui-Duquette is now planning fund requests more cautiously.
If Congress and the president fail to pass a budget by March 14, a federal government shutdown could severely impact families relying on Head Start.
“These are low-income families,” Bui-Duquette stated. “In many counties, we are the sole licensed child care provider. These rural western Wisconsin families depend on us for care so parents can work.”
Brenda Mateo, a former Western Dairyland Head Start parent and now a family advocate, emphasized the program’s significance.
“I worked at Ashley Furniture at 18 as a single mom, then enrolled my child at Head Start. Child care costs were burdensome,” Mateo said.
Head Start enabled her to attend college while managing costs.
“I paid for six hours weekly instead of 50, which made college affordable,” Mateo added.
The funding freeze, though brief, worried Head Start families and employees, Mateo noted.
“Families were asking about Head Start’s future. We had few answers as the situation was abrupt. Everyone at our center was concerned. We advised families to contact representatives about the program’s importance,” she said.
Mateo empathizes with families fearing Head Start cuts due to government shutdowns or funding reductions.
“Without Head Start, I might have quit my job or college. Many parents face similar challenges because child care is costly,” Mateo reflected.
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