FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: media@edtrust.org 

October 30, 2025 

American Students and Their Families Should Not Have to Suffer nor Sacrifice Their Basic Needs Inside and Outside the Classroom 

WASHINGTON – While the federal government shutdown continues, EdTrust is deeply concerned about its far-reaching impacts on students, families, and schools across the country. 

As the shutdown extends into November, vital programs that families rely on, including Head Start and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), face a dire disruption. Approximately 42 million people — roughly 1 in 8 Americans — receive SNAP benefits; and every year, Head Start and Early Head Start programs serve roughly 800,000 children in nearly 50,000 classrooms in 17,000 centers across the United States. Combined, this would leave millions of children without access to early learning opportunities, nutritious meals, and family supports that help them succeed inside and outside the classroom. 

“For low-income and working-class families, SNAP isn’t optional; it’s essential,” said Augustus Mays, VP of partnerships and engagement at EdTrust. “The nation’s ongoing shutdown is deepening inequities that already leave too many parents choosing between feeding their kids or keeping the lights on. That’s not fiscal responsibility; that’s cruelty.” 

EdTrust urges Congress to come to an agreement on protecting Americans’ access to healthcare and reopen the government to protect the critical programs that ensure children’s health, learning, and stability. Schools and families cannot afford to watch politics play out when their very lives are at stake. 

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About EdTrust 

EdTrust is committed to advancing policies and practices to dismantle the racial and economic barriers embedded in the American education system. Through our research and advocacy, EdTrust improves equity in education from preschool through college, engages diverse communities dedicated to education equity and justice, and increases political and public will to build an education system where students will thrive.