The Tohono O’odham Nation says the federal government’s plan to eliminate Head Start, an early learning program that serves low-income families, will directly affect tribal members.
"If this occurs, there will be widespread impacts to families with young children," the office of the Chairman and Vice Chairwoman wrote.
Since its start in 1965, the program has served thousands of children nationwide from birth to age five for school through services like early learning and development, health and family well-being.
The proposal to cut the program, under the Department of Health and Human Services, is tucked in a 64-page internal draft budget document that was obtained by The Associated Press. It is still in a highly preliminary phase as the White House prepares to send Congress its budget request for the 2026 fiscal year.
“The budget does not fund Head Start,” according to the draft. It says eliminating the program is consistent with the Trump administration’s “goals of returning control of education to the states and increasing parental control.”
“The federal government should not be in the business of mandating curriculum, locations, and performance standards for any form of education,” the document says.
There are 13 Head Start Tribal programs in Arizona. In fiscal year 2023, Head Start provided funding for 2,865 native children in Arizona for preschool, the most of any state. That funding amounts to nearly $42 million. Nationally, 21,230 children were enrolled in American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start programs.
Potential closures would affect families in Sells, San Xavier, Pisinemo, Santa Rosa, North Komelik, San Lucy, and Vaya Chin .
The tribe’s leadership says they are working to preserve the program, which offers traditional language revitalization and culture practices for its young students.
"The Nation's leadership is actively advocating for the preservation of Head Start and continues to monitor all the Trump Administration's budget proposals and their potential impacts on tribal members," the Tohono O'odham Nation's tribal leaders said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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