Overview

• U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez in Seattle issued a nationwide injunction Thursday stopping HHS from enforcing a new immigration-based restriction on Head Start enrollment.
• One day earlier, U.S. District Judge Mary S. McElroy in Rhode Island granted a preliminary injunction protecting 21 states and Washington, D.C., from broader directives reclassifying many community programs as restricted benefits.
• Both rulings faulted the administration for bypassing Administrative Procedure Act requirements and deviating from HHS’s longstanding post-1998 reading that non-postsecondary education programs like Head Start are not covered.
• Head Start associations, parent groups, and the ACLU presented evidence of immediate harm and a chilling effect, including families withdrawing and some providers requesting proof of citizenship.
• HHS said it disagrees with the decisions and is evaluating next steps, leaving the new restrictions paused as litigation and likely appeals continue.