The Trump administration is considering a broad rollback of federal research into child welfare programs, according to a mistakenly released internal document from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The spreadsheet outlined plans to terminate over 150 university-led research grants aimed at improving programs such as Head Start, child care, and other services for low-income families.
These grants were funded by the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, a division of HHS dedicated to building evidence-based policies to enhance the well-being of disadvantaged children and families. Projects on the chopping block include studies on child abuse prevention, foster care, child development, and economic self-sufficiency.
Naomi Goldstein, who previously led the research office for nearly 20 years before retiring in 2022, expressed concern. “These grants are meant to make programs more effective in supporting children and families. It’s hard to understand why they would be eliminated,” she said.
This development follows deep staffing cuts at HHS’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the agency that oversees Head Start. In recent months, five regional ACF offices were shuttered, and around 900 employees were let go. The ACF’s remaining staff now number around 1,500, down from approximately 2,400 in January, and there are plans to merge ACF into other HHS branches.
Other parts of HHS — including the CDC and NIH — have already seen billions in grant reductions under the Trump administration, particularly in areas tied to public health, gender, and racial equity. However, this spreadsheet marks the first public indication of possible large-scale cuts to ACF research.
Among the proposed terminations are multimillion-dollar grants for innovative research centers serving low-income Black and Hispanic communities, including one at Morehouse College in Atlanta and another at a Maryland nonprofit. Also listed were projects designed to improve Head Start operations — such as studies exploring how to reduce teacher turnover — at a time when the program faces potential defunding and widespread layoffs.
A former ACF official said these projects are critical for helping policymakers understand which programs are truly effective. “Ending these efforts without transparency not only wastes taxpayer money, but also erodes the foundation of evidence that supports vital safety net programs,” said Katie Hamm, who served as ACF’s deputy assistant secretary for early childhood development until early this year.
The spreadsheet came to light after it was inadvertently included in an email from an HHS employee to researchers, asking them to confirm their contact details. Though the department quickly attempted to recall the message, recipients had already downloaded the file, which marked most grants for “termination,” with only 21 flagged to “continue.” A small number had already ended or were scheduled to conclude at the end of the current budget period.
A spokesperson for HHS later said the spreadsheet reflected “outdated and predecisional information” but did not deny that program cuts could be forthcoming. “ACF is committed to aligning federal funds with Administration priorities and serving the best interests of the American people,” said Andrew Nixon, a department representative.
Goldstein noted the confusion surrounding the email underscores deeper instability within the agency. “It does appear to reflect a level of haste and chaos,” she said.
The total dollar value of the grants potentially being cut wasn’t listed in the document, but the Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation had control over $154 million in grants and contracts during fiscal year 2024. Over 50 universities and several state agencies and nonprofits were included in the list of affected projects.
While a follow-up message told recipients to disregard the document, it again asked for contact updates. One researcher, requesting anonymity, said they anticipate an official cancellation notice soon. Other recipients declined to comment.
