Ranking Members Scott and Sanders Lead Democrats’ Opposition to Trump Effort to Halt Pay Increases and Benefits for Head Start Teachers

Ranking Members Scott and Sanders Lead Democrats' Opposition to Trump Effort to Halt Pay Increases and Benefits for Head Start Teachers

WASHINGTON - House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Bernie Sanders led 69 Congressional Democrats in demanding that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) withdraw its proposed rule to roll back provisions that would have raised most Head Start teacher pay by $10,000 per year and ensured basic benefits for the program's full-time staff.

The Members highlighted that walking back the increase in teacher pay and basic benefits will jeopardize Head Start services for the nearly 716,000 children and their families.

"For over 60 years, Head Start has provided young children with high quality early education, health and dental care, and healthy meals, while their families access referrals for job training, adult education, nutrition services, and housing. In rural communities, Head Start programs are often the only licensed child care option for working-class families. At a time when child care is increasingly unaffordable, working families rely on Head Start programs and their staff for affordable, high quality child care," wrote the Members.

Despite the essential role of Head Start early educators and staff in early childhood education and development, they often receive poverty-level wages without basic benefits such as health care coverage and guaranteed paid leave. The lack of fair compensation and benefits has made it harder for Head Start to find and retain qualified teachers and staff.

According to Head Start, 71 percent of Head Start programs cited chronically low compensation for staff vacancies. Similarly, as of November 2024, staff vacancies drove 71 percent of Head Start closures.

"At a time when we should be strengthening our support for the Head Start workforce, this proposal could lead to higher staffing shortages or turnover that undermines Head Start's ability to fulfill its mission in the future. We urge you to withdraw the proposed rule and instead pursue policies to provide fair compensation and benefits to the qualified, dedicated Head Start workforce who are essential to providing high-quality education and comprehensive services for young children and their families," concluded the Members.

In the House, the letter was signed by: Representatives Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Nancy Pelosi (CA-11), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Sanford D. Bishop Jr. (GA-02), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Judy Chu (CA-28), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri A. Sewell (AL-07), André Carson (IN-07), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Robin L. Kelly (IL-02), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Delia C. Ramirez (IL-03), Summer L. Lee (PA-12), Hillary J. Scholten (MI-03), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Gilbert Ray Cisneros Jr. (CA-31), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), John W. Mannion (NY-22), Wesley Bell (MO-01), Shomari Figures (AL-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), and Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07).

In the Senate, the letter was signed by: Senators Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Jack Reed (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), and Andy Kim (D-NJ).

To read the full letter, click here.

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