In Iowa City, recent developments suggest that substantial changes may be on the horizon for university-based research on child welfare programs. It appears the Trump administration has plans to cut numerous grants focused on enhancing Head Start and child care policy initiatives, as per a mistakenly released document.
The inadvertent release of the spreadsheet offers a glimpse into potential cancellations of more than 150 research projects that were funded by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation. This office’s mandate has been to “build evidence to improve lives,” aiding policymakers in assessing programs aimed at supporting low-income children and families.
Naomi Goldstein, who helmed the office for nearly twenty years before retiring in 2022, expressed disbelief at the proposed cuts, which aim to refine programs that encourage healthy child development, combat neglect and abuse, and promote economic independence. “It’s puzzling why such beneficial efforts would be scrapped,” Goldstein remarked.
The proposed cuts imply a continuation of significant financial reductions already instituted within the HHS’ Administration for Children and Families. Over the past month, this division has seen the abrupt dismissal of many workers alongside plans to shut down five regional offices. The drop in personnel from 2,400 to 1,500 since January attests to these changes, with an outlook to integrate ACF into larger HHS divisions.
Other areas within HHS, including the CDC and NIH, have also witnessed the slashing of large grants concerning public health, gender, and race studies—issues previously contentious under President Trump’s tenure. While the document suggesting these potential ACF cuts was noted as outdated, it highlights the likelihood of sweeping ACF grant terminations happening soon.
Primarily affected by these plans would be programs like Head Start, which over many decades, has offered preschool education and services for a multitude of low-income children. Faced with recent layoffs and funding cut discussions, the program would be further weakened by pulling studies meant to enhance its operations, such as those focused on attracting and retaining qualified educators.
New research centers at Morehouse College and a Maryland nonprofit, designed to better support disadvantaged Black and Hispanic families, are listed among projects facing potential termination. Additionally, the anticipated axing of grants impacts various areas, including child care policy, child development, foster care, child abuse prevention, and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, reflecting ACF’s broad reach.
A former administration official underscored the vital role these studies play in shaping effective policy, stating that terminating such projects compromises the evidence-based foundation of crucial safety net programs. Katie Hamm, who served as ACF’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for early childhood development until January, criticized the lack of transparency surrounding the termination announcements. “The backdoor revelation of these plans through an accidental email rather than clear communication is concerning,” Hamm noted.
The sensitive information was mistakenly disclosed in a mass email sent by an HHS employee to academic and nonprofit grant holders, requesting updates on their contact details. The spreadsheet, which revealed whether financial support would “terminate” or “continue,” was downloaded before HHS attempted to recall the message. Although a department spokesperson dismissed the document as “outdated and pre-decisional,” there remains a potential for research funding within the ACF to face reductions.
Andrew Nixon, speaking on behalf of the department, stressed that ACF aims to ensure that funding aligns with administrative priorities. Goldstein highlighted the chaotic manner in which these discussions seem to be managed within the agency. Only 21 out of 177 entries noted a continuation of funding, with many simply tagged for termination after the current budget period,
The document failed to detail the overall financial impact but noted that in fiscal year 2024, the office had been responsible for allocating $154 million across grants and contracts. More than 50 universities stand to lose funding if the termination plans proceed, and various state entities plus nonprofit organizations would also be caught in the crossfire.
Following the erroneous email, grant holders received subsequent instructions to disregard the spreadsheet while again being asked for updated contacts. An anonymous researcher indicated they’ve been bracing for an official notification of grant terminations, while several others opted not to comment.