A follow-up email told recipients to disregard the spreadsheet, but again asked for updated contact information. One researcher who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation said they were expecting to receive formal notification soon that their grants would be ending. Several other grant recipients declined to comment.

The ACLU sued on behalf of early childhood groups to stop the Trump administration from further disrupting Head Start child-care centers without action by Congress.

Early childhood education groups argue Trump is trying to strangle this equity-based program that prepares kids in low-income families for school.