Democratic leaders in Illinois are raising concerns about the impact of President Trump's decision to freeze federal funding on families enrolled in the Head Start early childhood education program. Despite courts blocking the president's move and the White House rescinding the funding freeze memo, organizations like Two Rivers Head Start in Elgin are experiencing difficulties accessing federal funds, causing financial stress and uncertainty.
CHICAGO - As President Trump continues to implement cuts to federal programs and funding, Democratic leaders in Illinois are raising concerns about the impact on families enrolled in the Head Start early childhood education program. Governor JB Pritzker and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth visited Two Rivers Head Start in Elgin on Saturday, expressing their worries about the consequences of Trump 's recent order freezing federal funding.
They emphasized that despite courts blocking the president's move and the White House subsequently rescinding the funding freeze memo, the confusion caused by the initial order has already harmed organizations reliant on federal grants. Senator Duckworth stated, 'If you think Trump's illegal funding freeze is actually paused, and the financial pain that many are feeling is paused along with it, well you would be wrong. The financial setbacks triggered by Trump's illegal freeze are cruelly forcing providers to weigh impossible decisions, like how they'll pay to both keep their lights on and feed the children who depend on them.' Kelly Neidel, the executive director of Two Rivers Head Start, shared her experience of 35 years with the organization, highlighting its consistent bipartisan support in Congress for funding Head Start programs. As a non-profit, the organization heavily relies on federal funding for daily operations. Neidel admitted, 'We can't set a bunch of money aside. I wish we could, I wish we had a secret stash, but we don't. So when it goes day-to-day, and literally I was waking up at 2 o'clock in the morning checking our bank account. Did we have money? Are we going to have to let the staff go tomorrow? You know, it's a constant.'Governor Pritzker echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the real-life impact of the funding freeze on families. He stated, 'Despite what Donald Trump and Elon Musk think, these aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet. These are people. They're real people. They're working parents. They're children whose lives Donald Trump is playing games with.' According to the Illinois Head Start Association, the program has served over 24,000 families, underscoring the widespread reach and importance of this initiative
Trump Funding Freeze Head Start Federal Programs Illinois
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