MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The government shutdown is impacting federal employees and programs like Head Start, which warns that without federal funding, more than 65,000 children across the country could be at risk of losing vital services as soon as next week.

"Without congressional action, Head Start programs will begin to close down as early as Monday," said Tommy Sheridan, Deputy Director of the National Head Start Association. "Children and families should never be put at risk because of political gridlock. However, that's exactly what's happening right now."

Sheridan said six Head Start programs are already operating without federal funding, drawing on emergency reserves to stay afloat. And by Nov. 1, 134 programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico will risk closure. The lack of funding, Sher

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