Illinois-Wisconsin: Head Start Lawsuit Claims Ban on Words Like ‘Disability’ Violates Federal Mandate

Madison, Wis. – Several Head Start programs across the country say new federal guidance on grant language could jeopardize funding that supports child care, early learning, and health services for hundreds of thousands of young children.

Court filings made public this month show that some programs were instructed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to remove certain words and phrases from their funding applications. The list includes terms such as “disability,” “accessible,” “tribal,” “women,” “Black,” and “trauma.” Providers say they were warned that failing to revise their applications could result in denial of funds.

The guidance surfaced as part of a federal lawsuit brought by Head Start providers in states including Pennsylvania, Washington, Wisconsin, and Illinois. The plaintiffs argue that the Trump administration’s restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives conflict with long-standing federal law governing Head Start, which requires programs to meet the cultural, linguistic, and disability-related needs of children and families.

One Wisconsin-based program director said her routine grant renewal was returned in November with instructions to remove specific language. A follow-up message included a list of nearly 200 terms labeled as words to “limit or avoid” in government documents. She said complying could make it difficult to accurately describe services required under federal law.

Advocates warn the restrictions could weaken protections for children with disabilities and Native families. HHS declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation. Head Start serves roughly 750,000 young children nationwide.

This article was produced by a journalist with the assistance of AI. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.