Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.
What's at Stake
The Trump Administration is threatening the future of Head Start 鈥� a program that has provided critical and evidence-based services鈥攆rom education to childcare鈥� to more than 40 million children and their families. The Administration by gutting Head Start staff and resources, delaying funding, and prohibiting activities that 鈥渁dvance or promote鈥� 鈥渄iversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility,鈥� is irreparably harming the young children and low-income families who rely on Head Start.
Summary
In 1965, Congress created Head Start to provide high quality and comprehensive services for families in need. Over the past 60 years, this visionary program has transformed the lives of countless families by providing free early childhood education and childcare to 40 million children in every community in every state across the country. The effects of Head Start are well-documented; Head Start significantly improves the health, educational outcomes, and financial prospects of participating families.
The Trump Administration seeks to dismantle this crucial program in defiance of Congress. It has issued sweeping and impermissibly vague bans on activities that promote or advance 鈥渄iversity,鈥� 鈥渆quity,鈥� 鈥渋nclusion,鈥� and/or 鈥渁ccessibility鈥� (鈥淒EIA鈥�), which effectively forbid agencies from meeting their obligations under the Head Start Act to meet the 鈥渄iverse needs鈥� of children and families in their communities. The Administration has also eliminated half of the regional offices and 60 percent of the staff tasked with ensuring that Head Start programs have the day-to-day support and guidance they need to stay open. These actions have left insufficient staff to administer grants, provide training and technical support, and monitor agencies.
A coalition of parents and Head Start providers, represented by the 红杏视频 Women鈥檚 Rights Project, the 红杏视频 of Washington, 红杏视频 of Illinois, Impact Fund, Crowell & Moring, and Feldesman Leifer LLP, filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration鈥檚 coordinated and unlawful efforts to dismantle the Head Start program. Plaintiffs filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, and Office of Head Start, which are responsible for administering Head Start, including distributing federal funds, issuing program guidance, and ensuring grantee compliance with federal law.
Plaintiffs have also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction due to the immediate and lasting irreparable harm caused by Defendant鈥檚鈥� actions.
Legal Documents
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06/13/2025
Head Start Plaintiff's Reply in Support of Motion for a Preliminary Injunction -
05/16/2025
Motion for Preliminary Injunction -
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Declaration of Jane Doe -
Declaration of Martha Zaslow, P.h.D. -
Declaration of Katherine Neas -
Declaration of Khari Garvin -
Declaration of Osbornique Williams -
Declaration of Candice Vickers -
Declaration of Desiree Guerra -
Declaration of FFO Member A -
Declaration of FFO Member A -
Declaration of Clarissa Doutherd -
Declaration of Joel Ryan -
Declaration of Lauri Morrison-Frichtlin -
Declaration of Kara McFalls -
Declaration of Jennie Maunnamala
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of Jane DoeAffiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of Martha Zaslow, P.h.D.Affiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of Katherine NeasAffiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of Khari GarvinAffiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of Osbornique WilliamsAffiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of Candice VickersAffiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of Desiree GuerraAffiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of FFO Member AAffiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of FFO Member AAffiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of Clarissa DoutherdAffiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of Joel RyanAffiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of Lauri Morrison-FrichtlinAffiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of Kara McFallsAffiliate: Washington
Washington State Association of Head Start and Early Childhood Assistance and Education Program et al., Robert F. Kennedy et al.Legal DocumentsDeclaration of Jennie MaunnamalaAffiliate: Washington
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05/13/2025
Amended Complaint
Date Filed: 06/13/2025
Affiliate: Washington
Date Filed: 05/16/2025
Affiliate: Washington
Date Filed: 05/13/2025
Affiliate: Washington
Press Releases
Parent Advocacy Groups and a Coalition of Head Start Providers File Lawsuit to Stop Trump Administration鈥檚 Dismantling of Head Start