HOT SPRINGS, AR — The government shutdown is affecting food programs at Head Start programs across the country.

The United States Department of Agriculture provides funding for food at head starts.

Because the department is shut down, that means the head start agencies are not getting funding for food.

They’re having to pick up the tab.

Head Start directors said that takes away from providing in other arenas.

“We’ll have to go back and look at the budget and see we’ve already reduced it to bare bones.  Some of the bones will have to be eliminated to get additional resources,” said Leon Massey, executive director of the Community Services Office in Garland County.

The Community Services Office, which runs four head start centers in Garland County, already lost $80,000 in the federal sequester earlier this year.