Cash-strapped Head Start centers across the country are being forced to close their doors, with more expected to shutter as the shutdown continues.

HHS confirms that more than 58,000 children in Head Start centers nationwide are in programs that will not have federal funding come Nov 1 if the shutdown drags on.
Programs are already starting to close their doors as the shutdown blame game continues:

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Congressional Republicans are forging a plan to make good on President Donald Trump’s directive to close the Education Department.

They see a path to chipping away at the agency program by program, using multiple bills:

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New: The House's consideration of the education spending bill is expected to slip into Sept. when lawmakers return from Aug recess. The House Approps Cmte is looking to hold markups on the Labor-HHS-Education spending bill for FY26 the first week of Sept

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College presidents are looking to the Senate GOP to stave off the House proposal for dramatic changes in Pell Grant eligibility.

“This is a difference between some of those students either coming to our universities or tech colleges or not.”

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ICYMI: A tax credit in the ‘big beautiful bill’ could transform school choice. Lawmakers, advocates are maneuvering to extract an even bigger get out of the Senate. They want:

•$10B over 10 years compared to House’s $5B over 4
•No income limits

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New: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told House appropriators this morning that the administration wants to “preserve” Head Start. Kennedy’s written testimony says the administration is seeking to fund the program at FY25 levels.

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House Republican tax writers have proposed a major expansion of the tax Congress levies on the nation’s largest college and university endowments in the GOP’s budget bill. The Ways and Means Committee has also laid out a new tax incentive that would support school choice. What you need to know:

HHS has closed half of its regional Head Start offices outside of Washington, D.C.
If you worked in one of these offices or run a local Head Start program, I want to hear from you. My email is mwilkes@politico.com or you can reach me on Signal at mwilkes.77
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New: Rep. Bobby Scott, the top Democrat on the House education committee, is introducing a resolution of inquiry to request information from the Education Department and White House on their plans to dismantle the agency.

Harvard University announces hiring freeze amid Trump administration's scrutiny of federal funding for higher education.

ICYMI: HHS’ Head Start and child care office have lost a reported 20-25% of staff. This could impede grantees from getting technical support to access their federal dollars.

“They want to undermine trust in the ability of the federal government to provide services”

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House Republicans are already prepping to move legislation on trans sports participation.

The rules pkg for the 119th Congress sets up consideration of a bill to amend Title IX to recognize that sex is based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth.
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Looking ahead: House Speaker Mike Johnson has laid out an agenda to address the increase in antisemitic complaints on college campuses next Congress.

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Rep. Tim Walberg has been tapped to lead the Education and the Workforce Committee, defeating Rep. Burgess Owens.

Walberg, dean of the Michigan delegation, has been on the panel for over a decade.

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Linda McMahon's education resume isn't long. But Senate Republicans who will oversee her confirmation tell me that's to her advantage.

“She has run an agency which did a lot of loans and one of the dominant issues that’s before the Department of Education is the FAFSA program.”

“This is a crying need for kids, for parents, for child care providers,” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said.

States have until Sept. 30 to spend the roughly $4.1 B in child care stabilization funds from the American Rescue Plan.
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