Rep. Jimmy Gomez Visits Para Los Niños to Sound the Alarm on Trump Admin's Attack on Head Start

Gomez hears directly from Los Angeles families as Trump administration moves to roll back federal standards for early childhood education program

Los Angeles, August 13, 2026
(Left to right): Luis Bautista, Head Start and Early Learning Division Executive Director (LACOE), Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Katherine Nelson, Vice President of Student Success (PLN), Lorena Rodriguez, Managing Director, Early Education (PLN), Drew Furedi, President and CEO (PLN), Sarah Figueroa-Freeman, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (PLN)

(Left to right): Luis Bautista, Head Start and Early Learning Division Executive Director (LACOE), Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Katherine Nelson, Vice President of Student Success (PLN), Lorena Rodriguez, Managing Director, Early Education (PLN), Drew Furedi, President and CEO (PLN), Sarah Figueroa-Freeman, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (PLN)

Today, U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) visited Para Los Niños’ W.M. Keck Foundation Early Education Center in Westlake following the Trump Administration’s newly proposed overhaul of Head Start standards, which would eliminate or weaken numerous federal requirements governing the early childhood education program. This sweeping rollback of protections would eliminate requirements designed to ensure children receive safe, high-quality care, and create a patchwork of standards that could leave families with fewer protections and less accountability.

During the visit, Gomez met with parents, educators, and Para Los Niños leadership to hear directly about what the proposed changes could mean for Los Angeles families who rely on Head Start. He also toured classrooms at the center, which provides tuition-free early education and support services to approximately 60 children ages three to five from qualifying low-income families. 

“Head Start is a lifeline for working families in Los Angeles, and the Trump Administration’s attempt to dismantle the standards that protect this program puts our kids at risk,” said Gomez. “Families are already struggling with the high cost of child care and preschool. We should be strengthening Head Start and investing more in early education, not tearing it apart. I’ll fight these changes and do everything I can to protect Head Start for the families who depend on it.” 

Gomez has long worked to support families and strengthen community resources in Westlake. His federal investments in the community include: 

  • $350,000 for Para Los Niños’ Youth Workforce Services Project to hire four additional career advisors at its Westlake and Lincoln Heights centers, expanding academic, employment, and post-secondary education support for young people. 

  • $850,000 for Union Towers Computer Lab Renovations and Technology Upgrades to restore and modernize computer labs for public housing residents, including at Union Towers in Westlake. 

  • $850,000 for the Clark Residence Project to make critical repairs and upgrades to a 152-unit Westlake housing development serving formerly unhoused Angelenos. 

  • $1 million for Clínica Monseñor Oscar A. Romero’s Community Center Revitalization Project to expand mental health care, substance-use prevention and treatment, health education, and other services for residents of Westlake and Pico-Union. 

  • $850,000 for Metro’s Regional Bus Stop Enhancement Program to improve seating, shade, accessibility, technology, and safety at bus stops throughout the district. 

Para Los Niños serves more than 10,000 people annually across Los Angeles through early education, TK-8 education, youth workforce development, family support, and community empowerment programs.