Concerns rise over potential federal funding cuts for Head Start, LIHEAP in New Hampshire

MANCHESTER, N.H. — Concerns are growing in New Hampshire as federal funding for the state's community action programs, which assist thousands of families annually, may be cut by the Trump administration.

The programs, which are funded through September, include Head Start, emergency heating assistance and more.

U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, on Thursday toured the Community Action Partnership of Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties, one of five programs in New Hampshire that rely on approximately $24 million in federal funding.

Along with state support, the programs provide services such as Head Start, which serves more than 1,300 families in the preschool child development program; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC); and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

"We saw just in this past year over 700 emergency situations where clients presented in a position of having no heat and no oil, no fuel, and so it's important for us to be there and be able to respond to those situations," said Ryan Clouthier, of CAP of Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties. "If not through community action, it would be pushed to the local level, which would cost more in the long run."

The community action programs emphasize that their centers and programs are currently open and that they will fight to maintain funding to keep them operational.

"To be at a place where we're having to defend this type of programming for this critical need in our community is kind of sad," said Jean Agri, of CAP of Belknap and Merrimack Counties.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding potential cuts to federal funding.