MILWAUKEE — Head Start programs across the country are grappling with funding delays following a technical issue on a key government website.
What You Need To Know
- Although President Donald Trump’s executive order to freeze federal grants was rescinded, five Head Start grantees in Wisconsin remain locked out of their funds
- In Milwaukee County, the impact is being felt by organizations such as Next Door
- Although several programs in Wisconsin have since regained access to their funding, uncertainty persists
- Federal officials clarified last week that the executive order was not intended to include Head Start programs
Although President Donald Trump’s executive order to freeze federal grants was rescinded, five Head Start grantees in Wisconsin remain locked out of their funds. It’s leaving many local administrators anxious about the future.
In Milwaukee County, the impact is being felt by organizations such as Next Door, an early childhood education provider serving over 1,000 children annually across multiple sites.
With a workforce of 205 and support for more than 850 families, Next Door depends on steady cash flow to maintain its services.
Heather Mehring Gram, president of Next Door, expressed her concerns about the situation.
“The concern is when — and you know, any agency, no matter how strong and financially viable, relies on cash flow to function,” she said.
The funding delays can be traced back to late January, when administrators nationwide were unexpectedly locked out of the system used to access Head Start grant money.
Despite the website now being operational, many grantees continue to struggle with accessing funds that are critical for meeting payroll and other essential expenses.
“When everything was shut down Tuesday, it really sent folks into a tailspin and not knowing what was going to happen,” said Jen Mauer, executive director of the Wisconsin Head Start Association. “It was a payroll week.”
Although several programs in Wisconsin have since regained access to their funding, uncertainty persists.
With unpaid invoices and delayed employee payments, local leaders worry that even a brief disruption could have cascading effects on the communities they serve.
Federal officials clarified last week that the executive order was not intended to include Head Start programs.
However, the lingering effects of the funding freeze continue to disrupt operations, leaving both administrators and the families they serve in a state of anxious anticipation.
As Wisconsin programs work to stabilize their operations, Gram said she remains committed to ensuring that programming continues uninterrupted.
“We are a strong agency with a longstanding history, and we will work to figure this out to ensure programming continues for our children and families,” Gram said.