(The Center Square) – Absence of federal funding will furlough 258 employees at a dozen Head Start programs mostly in eastern North Carolina, according to a state Commerce Department report.
Temporary closure of all East Coast Migrant Head Start Project offices will happen Saturday. Workers are expected back if funding through the Administration for Children and Families resumes.
According to the Worker Adjustment and Retaining Notification notices, more commonly known as the WARN Report, the layoffs will happen for 55 workers in Wake County, 48 in Harnett County, 47 in Duplin County, 29 in Columbus County, 21 in Pitt County, 19 in Nash County, 14 in Henderson County, 10 in Johnston County, seven in Pender County, six in Wilson County, and two in Yadkin County.
Employees were made aware in an Oct. 17 memo.
Head Start promotes school readiness among children in low-income families. It serves up to age 5, including pregnant women through Early Head Start. The services include education, health, nutrition and parental involvement.
The federal government shut down on Oct. 1 for the first time since a 35-day stoppage bridging 2018 and 2019. At 28 days on Tuesday, this shutdown has already surpassed the 1995-96 stoppage of 21 days for No. 2 in terms of length.
The Republican majority U.S. House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution in September. The Republican majority Senate is stalled in filibuster led by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., unable to get seven votes to reach the threshold of 60 needed to pass the legislation.
Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., the deputy whip in the chamber, in a network interview said, “Shutdowns are terrible, and, of course, there will be families who will suffer. We take that responsibility very seriously. But it is one of the few leverage points we have.”
Schumer has asked for closed-door meetings with second-term Republican President Donald Trump, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota. Transparency has been Johnson’s repeated response.
In addition to Democrats in the House rejecting the continuing resolution in September, Democrats in the Senate have rejected it 13 times following Tuesday morning’s vote.
