An early childhood education program serving thousands of San Diego children at risk due to a federal budget proposal to cut it entirely was saved when the Trump administration opted not to cut Head Start funds this week.
Episcopal Community Services Head Start Early Childhood Education provides support for early education, health, and services for preschool children.
The nonprofit agency stood to lose $24 million, affecting more than 300 employees and limiting service to 200 slots compared to 1,300, according to Rosa Cabrera-Jaime, director of early education and family services at ECS.
“Here in San Diego, there’s a high demand for childcare for children zero to three,” Cabrera-Jaime said.
According to Associated Press, Head Start began as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty. Since then, the program has received bipartisan support, but some Republicans have opposed efforts to increase funding.
This week, an administration official said there would be “no changes” to it. The official insisted on anonymity to preview the budget plan on a call with reporters.
Still, teachers, families and advocates remain concerned about the stability of Head Start. The Trump administration is closing several regional offices and laying off the staff who support the program, which has led to funding delays that threatened to close individual preschools.
A document accidentally emailed to grant recipients this week called for eliminating funding for research on Head Start and other child care programs. Before Trump took office, staffing shortages and rising costs had already forced some programs to cut the number of students they served, or shutter altogether.
Advocates say other cuts to education and social-safety-net programs would also hurt families served by Head Start.
Project 2025, the policy blueprint created by the far-right Heritage Foundation, called for the elimination of Head Start altogether.
“We have about 30 to 40 Head Start teachers who, once upon a time, were Head Start Children. They have shared the impact Head Start has had and how it has helped them break barriers and get out of poverty. Now, their children are going to college and having a better life, and that is what Head Start does,” said Cabrera-Jaime.
“We break barriers, we help families to maximize their potential, and release those cycles that are not repeated. If that goes away, I don’t know where we end up,” she said.
This story was updated on Weds., May 7, 2025 at 12:49 p.m. to reflect that Head Start was not cut in this year’s budget. Associated Press contributed to this report.
