Gov. Meyer on the effect of the ‘Big Beautiful Bill‘ to Delawareans
Gov. Meyer spoke to the media today. Many questions were about the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’s’ effect on Delawareans. 7/8/25
- Delaware joined a multistate lawsuit challenging federal cuts to educational programs.
- Delaware officials estimate the cuts could impact over 50,000 people and cost the state $11 million in grants.
Delaware has joined a multistate lawsuit against cuts to Head Start and other educational programs.
Led by Attorney General Kathleen Jennings, Delaware, along with Pennsylvania and Kentucky, on Aug. 15 joined the lawsuit that was filed by 19 states and the District of Columbia, according to the state Department of Justice.
The DOJ said that in early July, the state Department of Education was notified that the Trump administration, through the U.S. Department of Education and Health and Human Services, was looking to reinterpret the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, which limits access to welfare programs and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
Head Start, a federally funded program that promotes school readiness and offers child care, will no longer be available for undocumented children, according to the new interpretation. Head Start is one of many programs that have been redefined by the Trump administration as similar to welfare, which bars undocumented immigrants from accessing those programs.
Earlier this year, Head Start was almost eliminated entirely, but the Trump administration backed off.
The DOJ called the new interpretations a “chaotic reversal of bipartisan policy.” It also said corresponding cuts could add up to $11 million in grants and could cut more than 250 programs that serve more than 50,000 people in Delaware.
“We have never had to fight so hard to defend children—in this case some of Delaware’s most vulnerable—from their own president,” Jennings said in a statement. “Threatening to defund these critical education programs is illegal – and while Donald Trump may not care about that fact, the Courts certainly do. Every child in our state is my constituent and I will always go to the mat for them. We’ll see you in court.”
The lawsuit was filed on July 24 in a federal court in Rhode Island and wants to declare the new rules as unconstitutional and ban implementation and enforcement of them. The federal government will not enforce the rules in the states involved in the lawsuit, including Maryland and New Jersey, until Sept. 10.
“Head Start provides access to opportunities for children and families who might otherwise have no hope of achieving their dreams,” Delaware Secretary of Education Cindy Marten said in a statement. “On behalf of these young people, I want to express our gratitude for the never-ending fight our Attorney General and our Governor are waging to save our system of education.”
Shane Brennan covers Wilmington and other Delaware issues. Reach out with ideas, tips or feedback at slbrennan@delawareonline.com.
