Why It Matters

The National Head Start Association must secure stable federal funding for early childhood programs serving over 1 million low-income children while confronting administrative efforts to eliminate those programs entirely. The organization’s last quarter focus on FY26 appropriations and homelessness reflects stark reality—Head Start funding faces existential threats, while workforce shortages and housing instability directly undermine program effectiveness. NHSA’s strategy is straightforward: deploy experienced appropriations expertise paired with fresh congressional relationships to influence the budget process and advance bills linking child care expansion to housing solutions.

By the Numbers

The National Head Start Association reported $76,327 in internal lobbying expenses for the last quarter of 2025, focusing on FY26 appropriations and homelessness issues. The organization has maintained consistent in-house lobbying since 2003, complemented by external partnerships with firms including Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP and Capitol Hill Partners.

The last quarter filing represents a strategic pivot toward congressional expertise. Veteran lobbyist Robert J. Bissen, who has logged $6.6 million across 186 filings since 2003, remains the institutional anchor. But NHSA recently added Tamar C. Epps, a former legislative aide to Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH-2) and staffer for Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)—whose office sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee with direct jurisdiction over Head Start funding. NHSA competes against Start Early, which reported $170,000 in the fourth quarter 2025 expenses on overlapping early childhood issues.

The Agenda

NHSA is lobbying Congress on FY26 appropriations and homelessness. The organization’s Q4 2025 push targets federal funding across multiple committees with jurisdiction over early childhood programs, advocating for resources spanning education, health, and budget priorities tied to Head Start and Early Head Start programs.

The homelessness focus reflects strategic recognition that housing instability directly undermines child development. This aligns with active congressional interest, including proposed legislation like the Build Housing with Care Act of 2025 that would co-locate housing and child care facilities. Recent congressional hearings—including sessions on \"Child Care and the American Workforce\" and \"Who’s Watching the Kids?\"—underscore the political salience of these issues heading into the 2026 budget cycle.

Broader Context

NHSA’s lobbying push arrives amid extraordinary turbulence in federal early childhood policy. The Trump administration repeatedly attempted to slash or eliminate Head Start funding entirely, including illegal withholding of congressionally appropriated funds that GAO flagged as an Impoundment Act violation. A fall 2025 government shutdown left over 58,600 children across 134 Head Start centers at risk of losing services.

Despite this pressure, Congress preserved most federal education funding on a bipartisan basis. The FY26 appropriations bill includes approximately $100 million in increases for Head Start, bringing total funding to $12.4 billion—a legislative rebuke to proposed cuts. Multiple congressional bills addressing child care access remain under consideration, including the Child Care for Working Families Act and the Head Start for America’s Children Act.

Between The Lines

Congress is actively debating Head Start funding amid significant political turbulence. Democratic members have strongly opposed proposed cuts, with senators Gillibrand, Rosen, and Cortez Masto condemning administration actions. Some bipartisan cooperation exists: Senators Capito (R-WV) and Warnock (D-GA) introduced legislation to boost child care workforce and expand Early Head Start access.

NHSA’s homelessness focus aligns with the Build Housing with Care Act, reflecting growing congressional recognition that housing instability affects educational outcomes.

Competitive Landscape

NHSA operates within a well-funded early childhood advocacy ecosystem. Start Early reported $170,000 in Q4 2025 lobbying expenses on overlapping issues, supplementing in-house lobbying with external firm EducationCounsel LLC. NHSA maintains its own multi-pronged strategy, retaining Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP for external lobbying alongside its in-house team.

The Bottom Line

NHSA’s $76,327 fourth quarter lobbying spend reflects a volatile funding environment where Congress preserved Head Start despite administration pressure. The organization’s strategic hire of Tamar C. Epps—with Senate Appropriations Committee experience—directly supports its core mission. While the Trump administration proposed eliminating Head Start entirely, Congress maintained education funding in FY26 with $100 million increases, signaling receptive ears on Capitol Hill despite ongoing battles.

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