MEDFORD, Ore. — U.S. Senator Ron Wyden joined local educators, parents, and officials on Saturday morning to celebrate a significant victory for the Head Start program in Southern Oregon, as federal funding for the program was preserved. Wyden hailed the outcome as a major triumph but cautioned that the fight to protect early education is far from over.
At the gathering, which took place at a Southern Oregon Head Start center, Wyden expressed relief that a potential funding cut, which he described as a “head spinner,” had been averted. The senator credited grassroots advocacy and outreach efforts to federal agencies for securing the victory. However, Wyden emphasized that the battle is ongoing, particularly in light of potential threats posed by future budget proposals.
“We have won a major victory,” Wyden said during his address. “But let’s not forget it after we celebrate today. We’ve got a lot of battles ahead.”
Southern Oregon Head Start currently serves 939 children and families in the region, offering a variety of services, including early childhood education, family support, transportation assistance, and resources for working parents. The program has been instrumental in helping families like that of Fallon Linde, a local single mother, who spoke at the event.
“Head Start’s helped me a lot,” Linde said. “Being a single mom, it’s been really hard… they help with more than just schooling.”
Wyden, the senior Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, revealed that his office had directly intervened to prevent the funding cuts, reaching out to the Administration for Children and Families, the federal agency responsible for overseeing Head Start. Despite this victory, Wyden voiced concern over a draft federal budget from the White House that proposes eliminating the program entirely. He warned that such a move would disproportionately harm vulnerable children and families, both in Oregon and across the nation.
“We’re going up against a White House budget — a draft that turns the lights out on this — and all these people, and all these kids, deserve better,” Wyden said.
The senator urged the public to stay engaged in the fight, encouraging families and educators to build a national coalition to support the program. He stressed the importance of keeping up the pressure on lawmakers to preserve federal funding for early education.
“We’re going to stay at this until we win it,” Wyden said. “Because budgets are not just facts and figures — they’re about priorities.”
Local officials echoed Wyden’s concerns, highlighting the critical role Head Start plays in the community. Catherine Clayton, the Executive Director of Southern Oregon Head Start, warned that eliminating the program’s funding would have disastrous consequences for the region’s most at-risk children and their families.
“If we eliminate Head Start funding, it would be catastrophic,” Clayton said. “It would be a direct attack on our communities’ most at-risk children, their well-being and their families.”
While the Southern Oregon Head Start program enjoys strong local support, officials made it clear that the continued success of the program depends on sustained federal investment. As discussions about future budgets continue, the local community remains committed to ensuring that the essential services provided by Head Start are not lost.