Rep. Aguilar Highlights How the Trump Administration’s Attacks on Head Start Will Hurt Inland Empire Kids

The Trump administration is pushing for changes that will make it harder for children to learn, communicate with teachers or access the Head Start program altogether

SAN BERNARDINO, CA - Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) held a press conference highlighting how the Trump administration's attacks on Head Start will hurt children, parents and teachers in the Inland Empire. The administration's proposed changes threaten to take away children's health and support services, force bilingual children into English-only classrooms, limit enrollment for children from the neediest families and reduce training and support for teachers.

In San Bernardino County, many children come from working-class or lower-income families, are bilingual, or face challenges like homelessness and parents' job instability. These proposed changes would harm these children the most, making it harder to learn, communicate and get the healthcare they need. You can watch the full video of the press conference here and find photos from the event above and here.

"When I worked as a Head Start teacher's aide, I saw firsthand how this program invests in every aspect of childhood and gives kids a place to learn, grow and thrive," said Rep. Pete Aguilar. "Now, Trump and Republicans are turning their backs on our nation's most vulnerable children and their teachers by gutting federal support for important Head Start services. Here in the Inland Empire, that means kids will struggle to get health screenings, talk to their teachers or have a place to learn while their parents work to make ends meet. That's not fair to our children or to the teachers who show up for them every day. I'll keep fighting to reverse these harmful changes so every family in our region can build brighter futures."

"The proposed federal overhauls to Head Start are a direct threat to our children and families," said Stacie Perez, President and CEO, Volunteers of America Southwest. "Right here in San Bernardino, we see firsthand how high-quality early childcare breaks the cycle of poverty. When you eliminate dual-language frameworks or weaken classroom protections, you don't just disrupt education-you directly derail a parent's ability to work and achieve economic stability. We stand firmly with Congressman Aguilar in rejecting these rollbacks to protect the pipeline of upward mobility for our community."

"The Head Start Program is an essential investment in our children, and families," said Jennifer Portillo, Sr. Government Relations Specialist at Child Care Resource Center. "The high-quality performance standards within the program give children the foundation they need to learn and thrive, while allowing parents to work and support their families. We must protect and keep on strengthening the program to ensure every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their family's income or circumstances."