Federal funding freeze continuing to impact Heartland Head Start programs

Plus, controversial Christian nationalist legislation introduced in North Dakota House

Despite the Trump administration revoking a memo that would freeze federal spending, Head Start programs throughout the Midwest and the rest of the country remained unable to access crucial financial support through this week. 

The programs are run by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and provide early child education and nutrition initiatives for low-income families. On Monday, Wisconsin Public Radio reported that half of the groups that use Head Start funds in Wisconsin could still not withdraw funds for payroll and other expenses. 

For example, Tim Nolan, who runs the Child and Family Centers of Excellence in Waukesha, said in an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio that he had been directly contacted by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and told to close shop temporarily. “When OMB asks, you do it,” Nolan said. “So we did as we were told to do on Tuesday, which was shut down.”

Meanwhile, Jen Bailey, the executive director for the Head Start network in southern Wisconsin, told multiple media outlets on Wednesday that she was unable to access the HHS portal which allows her to pay employees and cover health care expenses. 

“One of the obstacles has been, people heard in the media, ‘The freeze is paused, everything’s fine,’” Bailey explained. “We’re like, it’s not fine! This is actually still happening.”

Indeed, a statement released by the National Head Start Association (NHSA) on Tuesday disclosed that in Wisconsin, “at least 45 grant recipients serving nearly 20,000 children ages zero to five and their families, are experiencing delays in accessing funds.” On Thursday, the NHSA said that member organizations from across the nation continued to be affected. 

The blocking of funds could portend an even grimmer reality: Project 2025, the infamous policy portfolio organized by the far-right think tank The Heritage Foundation, specifically calls for the elimination of Head Start. 

As such, this temporary funding freeze offers a glimpse into such a future. 

"This is terrible, these families are the most at risk, the most vulnerable across our state, and they depend on us for many services," Lauri Morrison-Frichtl, executive director at the Illinois Head Start Association, told NBC News. 

"For some of our children, we meet two-thirds of their nutritional needs each day. Families depend on us to get to their job, to have their child in a safe, educational, caring place." 

At the start of the new legislative session, a group of North Dakota legislators put forward a potentially unconstitutional resolution that would have the state “acknowledge the Kingship of Jesus Christ.” 

“Whereas, the founding fathers of this great state begin the constitution with the words, ‘We’, the people of North Dakota, grateful to Almighty God….we desire there shall be a recognition of Almighty God as the source of authority; of the Lord Jesus Christ as the rightful ruler of nations…” the text for House Concurrent Resolution 3020 reads. 

Many of these same lawmakers also introduced another bill urging the Supreme Court to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the case that legalized gay marriage across all 50 states. 

HCR 3020 could be considered unconstitutional; the First Amendment clearly states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” Furthermore, one of the most influential Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, wrote favorably of religious pluralism. In his autobiography, Jefferson recounts efforts to include an explicit effort to reference Jesus Christ within the Bill of Rights — which ultimately failed. 

“The insertion was rejected by a great majority, in proof that they meant to comprehend, within the mantle of it’s protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan, the Hindoo and infidel of every denomination,” Jefferson wrote in his 1821 autobiography. 

Both bills — which reflect a broader trend of Christian nationalism amongst conservative lawmakers — come from Rep. Nico Rios (R-Williston). The representative previously created an uproar over antisemitic comments he made on social media last week. 

“Wonder if the CIA would help Trump overthrow and kick this Jew out of power in Mexico?” Rios said in a post last Sunday.