Washington, Jan 9, 2026: A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction preventing the Trump administration from eliminating words related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from Head Start grant applications and from laying off additional federal employees in the Office of Head Start.

The ruling comes amid a lawsuit filed in April 2025 against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other officials, challenging the administration’s efforts to restructure Head Start. The plaintiffs argue that the administration’s actions constitute an illegal dismantling of the program, including closing federal Head Start offices, laying off half the staff, and attempting to exclude children who are in the U.S. illegally from participating.

Prohibited Language and Its Impact

According to court filings, officials had instructed a Head Start director in Wisconsin to remove terms like “race,” “belonging,” and “pregnant people” from her grant application. Later, a broader list of nearly 200 words deemed inappropriate was circulated, including “Black,” “Native American,” “disability,” and “women.”

This directive created confusion for Head Start programs, which are required by law to describe how funds will be usedand provide demographic information about the families they serve. In Washington state, one director reported that the guidance led her to cancel staff training for supporting children with autism and those experiencing trauma.

Court Order and Reactions

The order, issued by U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez in Seattle, bars the Department of Health and Human Services from:

• Cutting additional employees in the Office of Head Start
• Penalizing Head Start providers for using DEI-related language in applications

Joel Ryan, head of Washington State Head Start & Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, said the ruling protects the integrity of Head Start programs, allowing them to continue serving children with disabilities, tribal members, and vulnerable families without fear of losing funding.

Founded over six decades ago as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, Head Start provides early childhood education, family support, and care to children from low-income households, foster care, or homelessness. Though federally funded, the program is operated by nonprofits, schools, and local governments.

The Trump administration has not publicly commented on the judge’s order. The case highlights ongoing tensions over DEI initiatives in federal programs and the role of administrative authority in shaping policy for early education.