MAGA Wants to Kill Head Start
Phone scripts and emails to demand we protect programs that helped 40 million kids prepare for school
Contact all members of Congress:
By phone: (202) 224-3121
By email: Congress.gov
By US mail: Representatives / Senators
By fax: Representatives / Senators
By Resistbot: Resist.bot
Reports have leaked that the Trump Administration is considering eliminating Head Start, a program that offers low-income families child care and preschool for their children. In addition to being yet another plank of Project 2025 Trump is seeking to make a reality, this would serve as a new front on Donald Trump’s war on kids that is already coming after Medicaid, childhood vaccination programs, pediatric cancer research, school lunches and funding for K-12 public schools.
Trump’s illegal seizure of funds and firings at the Department of Health and Human Services have already hit Head Start providers hard, but the program continues to ensure more children are fully prepared for school regardless of their circumstances at birth (check here for its long history of great results for kids). Last year, more than 790,000 kids got early learning, meals, development screenings and health care thanks to Head Start – and more than a million parents rely on the program to look after their kids so they can go to work. It offers relief for areas with few child care options and saves working families almost $12,000 a year (check out this map of Head Start centers from The Democracy Labs). Trump wants to make all this go away to pay for more giveaways to Elon Musk and his fellow billionaires.
Let’s be sure to contact our members of Congress and push them to fully fund Head Start – and make sure Trump actually spends the money for our kids.
We can see how many kids in our congressional district rely on Head Start here.
If we’re former Head Start students, parents or caregivers, we can also add our names to this alumni letter to the President and Congress.
Last updated 4/21/25.
PHONE SCRIPTS
Note you can find numbers for your federal election officials in one place at reps.fyi. And as you are getting responses about public statements, please let us know at roganslisttips@gmail.com.
Hi, my name is _________, and I’m a constituent from (city, zip). (If voicemail, leave street address).
I’m calling because of Trump’s continuing attacks on Head Start. This program helps kids succeed and working parents stay in their jobs. It should be fully funded, not eliminated. And Congress needs to make sure that funding gets spent, not stolen by the oligarchs.
Please oppose any spending bills that cut or get rid of Head Start. And use your authority to stop the federal worker purge and funding freezes from sabotaging the program.
(IF YOU’D LIKE, ADD):
Close to 800,000 children from low-income families get child care and preschool thanks to Head Start - including _____ in our district (see map). They get meals, development screenings, and health care, and they are better prepared for school. A million of their parents are able to stay in the workforce because they can count on Head Start for their kids, and they’re saving almost $12,000 a year. And we’re going to get rid of it because some billionaire doesn’t want to pay taxes? It’s ridiculous. A betrayal.
[IF YOU OR YOUR FAMILY BENEFITED FROM HEAD START, SAY SO HERE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT FOR YOU – SHARE YOUR STORY]
Thank you for your time and consideration.
EMAIL LANGUAGE
You can either send this message through the standard congressional email system, or send a less individualized version direct to your members of Congress by texting SIGN PEZVKT to 50409.
We have seen repeated reports about Trump’s continuing attacks on Head Start, including plans to follow through on Project 2025 and eliminate it altogether. This cannot be allowed to happen. This program helps kids succeed and working parents stay in their jobs. It should be fully funded, not eliminated, and Congress needs to make sure that funding gets spent, not stolen by the oligarchs.
[IF YOU OR YOUR FAMILY BENEFITED FROM HEAD START, SAY SO HERE AND TALK ABOUT WHAT IT MEANT FOR YOU – SHARE YOUR STORY]
Close to 800,000 children from low-income families get child care and preschool thanks to Head Start, including _____ in our district (see map). They benefit from meals, development screenings, and health care, and they are better prepared for school. We have seen the results over 40 years: Head Start kids earn better grades and test scores in K-12, they’re likelier to graduate high school, they’re healthier, and they have better-paying jobs.
One million parents are able to stay in the workforce because they can count on Head Start for their kids, and they are saving almost $12,000 a year. It’s especially helpful in those areas of the country that would otherwise be child care deserts. Getting rid of it so some billionaire does not have to pay a little bit more in taxes is ridiculous, and a betrayal of regular Americans.
Please oppose any spending bills that cut or get rid of Head Start, and use your authority to stop the federal worker purge and funding freezes from sabotaging the program.
Thank you for your time and consideration.