WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Child Care for Every Family Network sounded the alarm on reported mass firings across the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration of Children and Families (ACF). According to reports, ACF’s Office of Head Start lost approximately 20% of its staff and the Office of Child Care lost approximately 25%. 

These latest attacks come after the Trump Administration froze funding to Head Start programs (and only worked to unfreeze them after massive public outcry). Project 2025, the playbook created by OMB Director Russ Vought, also calls for the elimination of the entire Office of Head Start. 

Andrea Paluso and Erica Gallegos, Co-Executive Directors of the Child Care for Every Family Network, released the following statement: 

The Trump Administration is taking a sledge hammer to our federal child care agencies. Kids, families, and child care providers in every community will now pay the price.

Over the weekend, the Trump Administration decimated the federal workforce that keeps Head Start programs funded. These programs provide critical early learning opportunities and often offer wraparound and supportive services to families who need them. Don’t be fooled: these mass firings of key support staff in HHS and ACF are a cut to our child care infrastructure that will be felt across the country. 

We cannot lose sight of the fact that this is yet another step in the Trump Administration’s Project 2025 agenda to cut or eliminate programs that families depend on in order to give tax cuts and handouts to billionaires like Elon Musk. These attacks disproportionately and intentionally harm families who are Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and/or people of color; children and adults with disabilities; and families who make low or no wages–all so a few billionaires can keep hoarding more wealth and power. We must stand up, organize and fight back against this power grab that is undermining our democracy and the support our families depend on. 

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The Child Care for Every Family Network is the national movement and campaign to transform childcare, representing 1,500+ child care providers, impacted families, state and national organizations, and organizers across the country. Learn more: childcareforeveryfamily.org.