Hopkins House Loses $2 Million in Federal Earmark

Alexandria, VA — On March 14, Hopkins House lost a $2 million Congressionally Directed Spending (“earmark”) allocation that had previously been approved by the U.S. Senate. The funds were intended to outfit a new preschool academy planned as part of the Samuel Madden Homes redevelopment project in Old Town Alexandria. The new preschool academy would have enabled Hopkins House to expand access to high quality early childhood education for more than 125 families living and working in the community.

The loss comes as Congress passed a new Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through September 30, 2025. The legislation includes a $13 billion reduction in non-defense discretionary spending, with early childhood education programs among those facing significant cuts.

“This is more than just a line item in a budget,” said J. Glenn Hopkins, President and CEO of Hopkins House. “It’s the loss of opportunity for children, the loss of peace of mind for working parents, and the erosion of a support system that has helped build this community for generations.”

Republican leadership in both the House and Senate has indicated plans for further reductions to critical federal programs through both the FY26 annual appropriations process and an upcoming budget reconciliation bill. These cuts could impact a wide range of programs families, children, and working parents depend on, including:

• Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG)
• Head Start
• Medicaid and the Child Care Entitlement to States
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
• Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), among others

Hopkins House, which has served Northern Virginia families for over 85 years, relies on more than $2 million in direct and indirect federal support each year. These funds represent nearly 85% of the nonprofit’s annual budget and help ensure access to its highly rated preschool academy for the children of working, military, and low-income families.

“These are not abstract dollars. This money funds essential services that help parents work, children learn, and families thrive,” said Hopkins.
As federal cuts ripple down to state and local governments, already-strained budgets may be forced to reduce or eliminate basic services in transportation, education, healthcare, and housing.

“We remain anxiously hopeful that policymakers and the public will very soon recognize the long-term consequences of disinvesting in families and the infrastructure that supports them,” said Hopkins. "Despite this temporary funding setback, Hopkins House remains committed to building this new preschool for this community's children."