UMATILLA COUNTY— In the wake of a federal grants and loans freeze, Umatilla-Morrow Head Start stood firm, promising to continue to serve its community.   

Matthew Vaeth, acting director for White House Office of Management and Budget, issued a memorandum Monday, Jan. 27, implementing a freeze on federal funding.

“Federal agencies must temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance,” Vaeth said in the memo. 

In addition, the White House Office of Management and Budgets sparked nationwide confusion  when it circulated a 52-page spreadsheet listing thousands of federal grants and loan programs, including Head Start, indicating the program would be placed on a federal assistance pause.

The freeze was set to take place on Jan. 28 at 5 p.m.

Umatilla-Morrow Head Start issued a response on Meta, stating it is committed to the mission of supporting children and families with early childhood care and education, nutrition services and community-centered programs across Eastern Oregon.

“This remains our focus during this time of transition with the federal administration and any impacts to federal funding,” Umatilla-Morrow Head Start said. “While this may bring uncertainty as it is an evolving situation, our focus is to remain open, accessible and serving our communities.We do not anticipate any immediate disruptions to our daily operations.”

 Deniz Conger, interim executive director of UMHS, said the organization relies on state, local and regional support but also receives federal funding.

“Our federal funders communicate with us directly,” Conger said. “We’re on top of it and they notify us of any changes. The other thing is our operating budget and our grant period has already been approved. So we don’t anticipate any disruptions to the services that we’re providing now and through the rest of this year.”

Head Start programs help to support children’s growth from birth to age 5 through services centered around early learning and development, health and family well-being. The Department of Health and Human Services administers the program,

Suellen Whitlock,  senior director of Head Start and early childhood services, said the program has more than 600 children across seven counties in Eastern Oregon.

“Our priority is to continue to serve children and families and be here for the community,” Whitlock said. “They really are at the heart of what we do and we’re committed and dedicated to making that happen.”

Hours later, the Office of Management and Budgets issued a follow-up memo clarifying the Head Start program will continue without pause, including other benefit programs such as Medicaid, Social Security and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. 

“Funds for small businesses, farmers, Pell grants, Head Start, rental assistance, and other similar programs will not be paused,” the follow-up memo said. “If agencies are concerned that these programs may implicate the President’s Executive Orders, they should consult OMB to begin to unwind these objectionable policies without a pause in the payments.”

If the pause had been implemented, it could have forced hundreds of Head Start facilities nationwide to shut down. The program operates in every state, many tribal nations and several U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico.