Skip to main content
Statement

Trump Attack On Head Start Is An Attack On Our Children, Our Families, Our Future

August 7, 2026
Early Care & Education

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the proposed rule the Trump Administration issued yesterday gutting Head Start:

Moms Say: Hands Off Head Start

“America’s moms are appalled by the rule the Trump administration proposed yesterday that would dismantle Head Start as we know it, eliminating teaching standards and leaving students with disabilities without early intervention services. It would mean fewer children get vision, hearing and developmental screenings and supports, and medical and dental care. It would make it harder for eligible families to enroll and result in larger class sizes. If this rule is finalized, our children will be less healthy and less prepared for kindergarten. 

“This shameful Trump administration rule would gut Head Start as we know it, undermining access to quality early education and health and mental health services, and making it more difficult for working families to thrive. President Trump is trying to circumvent Head Start’s strong bipartisan support in Congress by gutting the program through regulation. America’s moms will fight back because we know Head Start helps give children a strong start and makes it possible for parents to remain in the workforce. MomsRising will mobilize our millions of active members to fight this rule and to urge every member of Congress to take action to stop it. 

“This attack on Head Start is an attack on our children, our families, and our future. It must not stand."

# # # #

MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, stop discrimination against women and moms, and build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: www.MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.