A White House directive to pause federal grants and loans has raised uncertainty for many universities, states and nonprofit organizations.

As the White House paused federal grants and loans in a far-reaching executive order, early childhood education centers and states discovered Tuesday they could no longer access money they rely on to provide care for some of the nation’s neediest families and children.

Teachers at Head Start child care centers are paid far less than public school teachers, even though they have similar credentials.

Head Start programs serving more than 10,000 disadvantaged children would immediately lose federal funding if the government shutdown isn't averted.

With persistent gridlock in Washington, a government shutdown looks all but inevitable ahead of this weekend's deadline.