Advocacy

This original post was written in February after I returned from Arizona. What I have witnessed and experienced in the few short months from then to now has been nothing short of disheartening and concerning. It all starts with anti-DEI rhetoric, and it leads to an emboldened population spouting racism, ableism and hate. Ableist ideals have quickly spiraled into public displays of hate speech and figureheads boldly using Sieg Heils. It has prompted legislative changes (some explained below) challenging framework for civil and disability rights. I feel like I am watching a profound regression in the United States and that I am truly not wanted here. For the first time, I feel truly paralyzed.

This week’s executive order from President Trump instructing cities to forcibly remove unhoused people from the streets is a chilling reminder of our country’s shameful past. It closely mirrors the so-called “Ugly Laws” that once criminalized the presence of disabled and unhoused individuals in public spaces. These discriminatory laws, which remained on the books in some areas until the 1970s, targeted people for merely existing while poor or visibly disabled.

Although executive orders are not laws and do not carry the same legislative authority, they often direct federal agencies and officials to act in ways that can dramatically shift policy. This order calls on Attorney General Pam Bondi to roll back previous regulations, making it easier to remove and involuntarily institutionalize people without due process. While Congress would need to formally approve new legislation for this to become enforceable law nationwide, the intent behind the order is unmistakable.

What we are witnessing is the resurgence of a rhetoric that dehumanizes poverty and disability. Labeling unhoused people as a threat to public safety not only scapegoats some of the most vulnerable members of our society, it also reinforces harmful and ableist narratives that echo early 20th-century eugenics. The fact that the Supreme Court decision permitting forced sterilization of disabled people in state custody remains unoverturned adds a disturbing layer of historical continuity to this moment.

We must call this out for what it is: a dangerous policy push cloaked in crime control language. Our society deserves better than leadership that recycles oppressive ideologies under the guise of public order.

The latest push to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges—the ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide—shows us exactly where anti-DEI rhetoric leads. What begins with attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in schools, workplaces, and policy discussions spreads like a cancer. It emboldens those who wish to roll back the rights of other marginalized groups.

We cannot ignore the throughline: discrediting DEIA is not an isolated debate. It sets the stage for dangerous actions against communities that have fought long and hard for basic civil rights. The LGBTQ+ community is now facing renewed threats, and this moment makes clear that the consequences of dismissing DEIA principles extend far beyond a single policy conversation.

This is the reminder: when one group’s rights are under attack, all marginalized people are at risk.

The irony would be funny if it weren’t so alarming. For years, the right has mocked the left for caring about language, dismissing it as “making up words” or claiming that “words can’t hurt.” Now they’re actively removing words out of fear. It’s a stunning contradiction, and the fact that so many people don’t see it is what’s truly terrifying. Anyway, I digress.

According to NPR, The Trump administration sent nearly 200 words that they consider “prohibited” to employees of Head Start programs (Turner, 2025). That’s right, the program that coordinates services directly with IDEA (Individuals with Disability Education Act) can’t use the term disability. Make it make sense.

Head Start is a federally funded early childhood program created in 1965 to support children from low-income families from birth to age five. It provides early education alongside health screenings, nutrition, family support, and disability services, helping reduce opportunity gaps before children enter the K–12 system.

Disability inclusion is a legal and foundational part of Head Start, with federal requirements ensuring that children with disabilities receive early identification, accommodations, and coordinated services through IDEA. As one of the nation’s most disability-inclusive education programs, limiting language around equity, disability, or inclusion directly weakens how programs identify needs, access resources, and advocate for children and families.

Below is the entire list of prohibited words. I took the liberty of organizing them for better structure. This feels so dystopian.

Recent videos have surfaced (3/11/2026) of two young Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers being deposed in a civil lawsuit. They are a terrifying glimpse into how DOGE operated while attempting (and failing) to lower the nation’s deficit. We are just now starting to learn the full extent of DOGE’s actions while operating with complete disregard for others and an unfathomable lack of oversight.

When DOGE was rolled out, it was sold as a scalpel that would trim the fat. In reality, it was a blunt-force trauma to the very systems that keep people like me alive. The stated goal was to slash $2 trillion from the deficit. Instead, it was an abject failure that resulted in nothing but security risks, vacuums of power, and a trail of litigation that will cost taxpayers for decades. We will be living through the ramifications of DOGE for a long time.

DOGE essentially existed to hit Ctrl-F > *any term these dorks deem DEI* > DELETE.

The following videos were created by 404media, whose independent journalists sat through countless hours of testimony to compile and organize social-media-ready clips. I knew DOGE was bad, but I had no idea how bad until I watched these two soulless Chads get picked apart. I’m sorry that you now have to, but accountability is important. This reckless display of ineptitude, overreach, and evil must be condemned.

Bunn, C., Guilfoil, K., & Griffith, J. (2025, January 30). Trump implies DEI could be to blame for D.C. plane crash in press conference. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/trump-plane-crash-dei-press-conference-biden-faa-washington-dc-rcna190020

Davidson, J. (2025, January 30). Leading Disability Organizations: Blame of Deadly Crash on Disabled Federal Workers Is Baseless, Irresponsible – NDRN. NDRN. https://www.ndrn.org/resource/dca-crash/

News, P. (2025, January 30). WATCH: Trump baselessly blames diversity hiring for deadly D.C. plane collision. PBS News. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-trump-holds-news-briefing-on-deadly-plane-collision-over-washington-dc

Norris, M. (2025, January 31). Trump’s DEI smears on plane and helicopter crash requires a response. MSNBC.com; MSNBC. https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-hegseth-plane-crash-dei-rcna190081

Soucie, D. (2025, January 30). Trump blamed DEI for the plane crash near D.C. But the FAA should look here instead.MSNBC.com; MSNBC. https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-plane-crash-dc-faa-airport-safety-rcna190034

Trump, D. (2024, January 10). Remarks at campaign event in Iowa [Speech transcript]. C-SPAN. https://www.c-span.org/video/?533556-1/donald-trump-holds-campaign-event-iowa

Turner, C. (2025, December 11). Head Start centers told to avoid “disability,” “women” and more in funding requests. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2025/12/11/nx-s1-5640757/head-start-hhs-funding-dei

The following section of the blog serves as a critical watchdog for the Department of Veterans Affairs during the second Trump administration. There is a concern that the current VA leadership functions more as a political instrument than as a shield for those who served, prioritizing loyalty over the needs of the veteran community. This administrative shift is concerning given that 2024 exit polls indicated approximately 61% of veterans supported the current president, a statistic that feels contradictory to Trump’s record of public statements and history of dodging the Vietnam draft. It remains difficult to reconcile this support with a history of disparaging remarks, such as his reported description of fallen service members as “losers”and “suckers,” or his dismissive claim that John McCain was not a war hero because he was captured.

By tracking administrative shifts and policy changes under the current Secretary, this space will highlight where partisan agendas may be endangering the quality, accessibility, and stability of veteran healthcare and benefits. This documentation is essential to ensure that those who have sacrificed for the nation do not become casualties of a “yes man” culture that risks dismantling the very institutions designed to protect them.

Subcategory 2/10/2025 Field-Stripping the VA: Surely This Won’t Have Any Consequences…

The expansion of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) into the veteran healthcare space represents a pivot point that many advocates, myself included, find alarming. In February 2025, DOGE began scrutinizing what they termed “unauthorized” federal spending, specifically targeting the $120 billion allocated to VA medical services under the 1996 Veterans Health Care Eligibility Reform Act. While I personally believe that any federal bureaucracy naturally accumulates some level of bloat that should be addressed, the decision to target a system that has been proven as a national model for integrated care is a dangerous gamble. Despite the rhetoric of efficiency, the VA consistently outperforms the private sector in mental health outcomes and patient safety, all while operating at a lower cost per patient than Medicare.

To see the GOP and DOGE immediately threaten the stability of these hospitals is a direct assault on the specialized care veterans earned, trading the health of those who served for a purely performative brand of fiscal reduction.

Supplement 2/20/2025 Bolstering the Veteran Mental Health Crisis

On January 27, 2025, the landscape of military and veteran mental health shifted dramatically with the signing of Executive Order 14183, “Prioritizing Military Excellence and Readiness.” While the order explicitly targets transgender troops by labeling gender dysphoria as “incompatible” with the rigorous standards of service, its broader language regarding mental and physical readiness risks a “chilling effect” across the entire force (Executive Order No. 14183, 2025). By framing certain mental health conditions as disqualifying, the administration inadvertently encourages service members to hide psychological distress or suicidality to avoid discharge.

This regressive policy is compounded by the Department of Government Efficiency’s interference with the most critical lifelines for those in crisis. Under the guise of fiscal reform, the administration implemented hiring freezes that specifically halted the recruitment of responders for the Veterans Crisis Line, even as call volumes reached historic highs (U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 2026). I believe that gutting the staff responsible for immediate suicide intervention leave veterans in peril. We cannot solve a suicide crisis by silencing those in need and purging those who provide their care.

Supplement 2/24/2025 Gutting the VA and Forcing Providers to Prove Their Worth

The intervention by the Department of Government Efficiency has transformed the VA into a testing ground for radical austerity, resulting in a staffing crisis that endangers the nation’s most vulnerable heroes. In early 2025, following executive orders to downsize the federal workforce, the VA initially moved to terminate over 80,000 positions. While leadership later claimed these numbers would be met through attrition, the immediate impact was a hollowed out system that lost thousands of specialized workers.

To justify their continued existence within this leaner federal system, the administration began forcing highly trained clinicians to submit five bullet points weekly to prove their productivity. I find it absolutely insulting that world class medical professionals, individuals with decades of specialized training, are being forced to audition for their jobs every seven days. This policy creates a toxic, low morale environment that actively drives talent away. Specialized clinicians have zero incentive to remain in a system that treats them with such fundamental disrespect when they can easily secure higher paying, more stable positions in the private sector. By prioritizing performative efficiency over professional dignity, the GOP and DOGE are dismantling the VA’s specialized expertise, ultimately leaving veterans to pay the price for a depleted and demoralized workforce.

Update 1: 4/20/2026 VA Staffing Crisis: Who Could Have Predicted This?

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is currently navigating a mental health care crisis as administrative staffing cuts directly undermine veteran safety. While the agency reports a 4% increase in overall appointments, data from the Common Defense Education Fund (CDEF) and ProPublica reveal a hollowing out of the specialized workforce nationwide.

According to the CDEF “VA: Not For Sale” tracker, the VA is undergoing a systemic reduction in force, with projections indicating a total cut of 30,000 positions across the agency by the end of FY 2025 (Common Defense Education Fund, 2025).

This move comes despite the VA’s own Office of Inspector General finding that over 57% of VHA facilities nationwide currently report “severe” occupational shortages in mental health sectors. By prioritizing budgetary “efficiency” over frontline care, the agency has created an environment where departures are now outpacing hires.

Investigative data from ProPublica confirms that in just one year, the VA lost nearly 700 social workers and hundreds of psychologists (Coleman et al., 2026). Providers cite increased workloads and ethical concerns as primary reasons for leaving. The impact on veterans is devastating:

• Michelle Phillips (Navy Veteran): Lost her long-term therapist to policy-driven resignations, stating the disruption “could mean life or death.”
• Jason Beaman (Army Reserve): Stopped seeking care entirely after two successive therapists quit the agency.
• Gwyn Bourlakov (Bronze Star Recipient): Described attempting to navigate the understaffed system as “shouting into the wind.”

This is the realization of some of my own fears. I noted (during DOGE cuts) that VA providers have little incentive to stay in the VA system when they are subject to government nonsense. Ultimately, it impacts the Veterans and costs lives. It is sad to see testimonial and statistics like this but it is important to highlight some of the immediate impacts from reckless government action.

Supplement 3/11/2026 VA Finds a New Way to Save Money: Forced Conservatorship

Why does it always come down to taking away rights instead of prioritizing delivering on services?

On March 11, 2026, the VA and DOJ finalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This agreement allows the DOJ to appoint VA attorneys as Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys (SAUSAs). This federal designation gives these lawyers the power to enter state courts to seek guardianship or conservatorship over veterans (Department of Veterans Affairs [VA], 2026a). This is an unprecedented overreach by the VA.

The VA states this program targets “vulnerable” veterans who are currently hospitalized or unhoused and lack the capacity to make their own decisions (VA, 2026a). However, disability rights groups argue this is a “shortcut” that bypasses less restrictive alternatives.

• Loss of Rights: Under guardianship, a veteran can lose the right to choose their own medical providers, decide where to live, or manage their own VA disability compensation (National Disability Rights Network [NDRN], 2026).
• “Civil Death”: Advocates refer to full guardianship as “civil death” because it strips away almost all individual autonomy (Bazelon Center, 2026).
• Financial Control: There is significant concern that the VA is pursuing this to “recoup” costs. By controlling a veteran’s estate, the government could potentially redirect disability benefits to pay for the very institutional care the veteran did not choose (Bazelon Center, 2026).

Following my spinal cord injury in 2017, I spent over a year as an inpatient at the VA hospital. During my time there, I came across hundreds of disabled veterans—most from the Vietnam and Gulf War era, and many without support systems. Some had had tough lives following their service, and some were staying in homeless shelters. I had very intimate conversations with some of them and learned that, despite their struggles, many preferred to be unhoused. As always, these conversations got me reflecting, and realized just how fortunate I was to have my support system. Without family, friends and loved ones willing to step up for me, I could have very easily found myself in a position where forced guardianship was the next course of action.

While I have to doubt that any qualified social worker would recommend guardianship for a patient without exhausting all other options, the simple fact is that some simply don’t want help, and that is their right. That doesn’t mean they need to lose their benefits. It is a slippery slope when we start removing people’s autonomy.

Now, I can only speak from my experiences with my own care team—which has always been top-notch. I also don’t doubt that there are veterans that likely need guardianship for their own safety. My fear with the Veterans Care Protection Act is that it opens the door far too wide for potential abuse, especially if you consider how politically motivated the bureaucracy can become.

The Veterans Care Protection Act is currently being discussed in the House Veterans Affairs Committee. While framed as a protective action, critics argue it prioritizes government efficiency over veteran liberty (Bazelon Center, 2026).

Supplement 2/17/2026 Taking Away Benefits If Symptoms Are Treated

The Department of Veterans Affairs recently (2/17/2026) issued an Interim Final Rule, “Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication,” which fundamentally alters how disability ratings are calculated. Traditionally, ratings were based on the underlying severity of a condition; however, this new rule directs examiners to consider the effects of medication. This means that if a veteran’s symptoms are successfully managed or reduced by treatment, their rating—and subsequently their compensation—could be lowered. Critics, including organizations like DAV (Disabled American Veterans), PVA (Paralyzed Veterans of America), and the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), argue that this creates a “perverse incentive” where veterans may choose to forgo necessary medical treatment to maintain financial stability.

This policy shift appears to contradict established legal precedents, such as Jones v. Shinseki and subsequent decisions from the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, which maintain that symptom relief from treatment should not be used to diminish a rating unless explicitly stated in a diagnostic code. Furthermore, the rule was implemented with immediate effect, bypassing the typical notice and comment period. Concerned parties are encouraged to submit formal feedback via the Federal Register before the April 20 deadline. The central argument remains that benefits are earned through service and sacrifice, and medical management of a condition does not equate to a cure or a reduction in the underlying disability.

I have personally been blessed with VA benefits following my spinal cord injury. I rely on adaptive equipment and medication. Does that now mean that because my wheelchair improves my mobility or my medication reduces pain, I am somehow less entitled to the benefits I earned through service and sacrifice? This is a very slippery slope. Policies that create perverse incentives around medical compliance do not end well. They cost lives.

GO COMMENT

Update 1: 2/19/2026 Outrage Prevails Again: VA Immediately Back Tracks

Less than 24 hours after implementing the Interim Final Rule, Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication, the VA has halted enforcement. In his statement, Secretary Doug Collins said the department issued the rule to “clarify existing policy and protect Veterans’ benefits,” but acknowledged that many believed it could lead to “adverse consequences.” He added that while the VA does not agree with how the rule has been characterized, it will not be enforced and public comments will continue to be collected. To be honest, I don’t want to reference Collins and give his words any prudence. He is nothing more than a political yes-man for the Trump administration, who are once again proving that they do not care about members of the military or veterans.

Don’t let this distract you from the fact that this reversal is important. It shows that public scrutiny and collective pushback from veterans and advocacy organizations made an impact. At the same time, this is not the end of the conversation. The rule still exists and comments are still open (keep commenting using the button above). For now, enforcement is paused, but this is something that deserves continued attention and transparency moving forward. This is only a cease-fire. There’s a reason they tried sneaking this new rule in. Stay vigilant.

Update 2: 2/23/2026 VA Smoke & Mirrors: The Rule Remains

Since the initial halt, VA leadership has doubled down publicly. Secretary Doug Collins said the rule “will not be enforced at any time in the future,” while Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence went further, stating the VA has “no intention of ever doing anything or talking about it ever again,” and even said, “So we withdrew the rule.” These statements sound final, but they are not legally binding. An Interim Final Rule remains in effect until it is formally rescinded through publication in the Federal Register. Press remarks, conference comments, and social media posts do not undo regulatory text. Until the rule is officially withdrawn through the proper administrative process, it still exists—and these political weasels know that. These statements are all theatrics to try to distract us while the creators of “Project 2025” work behind the scenes. .

Here is the advice I am following: do not confuse rhetoric with resolution. Continue submitting public comments. Continue documenting concerns. Continue watching the Federal Register for formal action. What we need is not reassurance. We need regulatory certainty in writing. Until that happens, these statements are political damage control, not legal closure.

https://www.regulations.gov/document/VA-2026-VBA-0067-0001

Update 3: 2/27/2026 Rule is Officially Rescinded

It is now official. The VA has formally published a rescission of the Interim Final Rule, “Evaluative Rating: Impact of Medication,” in the Federal Register, restoring the prior regulatory language and making the reversal effective immediately upon publication. This is no longer a pause in enforcement or a public statement promising not to act. It is a binding regulatory withdrawal. After days of confusion, press quotes, and damage control, the paper trail now matches the rhetoric.

The medication-based rating change has been legally undone, and the previous standard remains in place. This is a victory for veterans, advocates, and service organizations who mobilized quickly and demanded accountability. It is also a reminder that earned benefits are not protected by reassurances, but by formal process, public scrutiny, and persistence.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, stands as the defining and most divisive fiscal landmark of 2025. Originally proposed in the House on January 19, 2025, the nearly 1,000-page reconciliation package has been lambasted by critics as a “bloated nightmare” due to its staggering $4.1 trillion projected addition to the national debt over the next decade. While proponents championed it as a sweeping victory for tax relief, detractors point to a chaotic mix of aggressive spending and deep programmatic cuts that seem at odds with fiscal stability. The bill effectively traded $1.4 trillion in reductions to Medicaid, SNAP, and student loan programs for massive increases in defense and border security spending, all while the sheer volume of hidden provisions and special interest riders fueled the perception of a non-transparent, runaway budget that prioritizes political optics over long-term economic health.

A Blow to the Department of Education: Executive actions aimed at decentralizing education authority have already resulted in major staff reductions at the Office for Civil Rights, limiting federal oversight and weakening protections for disabled students (AAPD, 2025). These cuts reduce families’ ability to challenge illegal denials of services, as reflected in cases like A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools. At the same time, a 62% funding cut to the Institute of Education Sciences threatens critical education equity data (Ujifusa, 2025), while proposed IDEA block grants risk eliminating federal accountability altogether (Castillo & Neas, 2025).

Mental Health, Not a Priority: The proposed elimination of $1 billion in school-based mental health funding would significantly reduce access to counselors and psychologists, disproportionately harming students from marginalized and disabled communities (Thompson, 2025). But you know… “protect the children”, right?

Federal Jobs, Fewer Protections: Executive Order 14173 removed affirmative action requirements for federal contractors and eliminated all federal DEIA programs, discouraging proactive disability inclusion in hiring and dismantling accessibility-focused initiatives across government agencies (Foley & Lardner LLP, 2025; DLA Piper, 2025).

Redefining Disability: Emerging policy signals suggest the administration will narrow the legal definition of disability, potentially excluding conditions such as gender dysphoria from ADA protections and limiting access to accommodations in education, employment, and health care (Inclusivity Consulting, 2025).

Health Care on the Line: Proposed Medicaid cuts totaling up to $800 billion could result in coverage loss for an estimated 20 million Americans, including many people with disabilities who rely on Medicaid for essential services and equipment (Wallace, 2025). These cuts would also undermine special education services that depend on Medicaid reimbursements (TypeWell, 2025). Additionally, plans to dismantle the Administration for Community Living threaten independent living programs, Protection and Advocacy systems, and community-based supports nationwide (TASH, 2025).

Public Health Defunded: Proposed budget reductions of approximately 40% for the NIH and nearly 50% for the CDC would severely limit research and prevention efforts related to chronic and disabling conditions, particularly those disproportionately affecting marginalized populations (Steenhuysen & Borter, 2025).

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released its proposed budget, and the ripple effects are being felt deeply throughout the disability community. With over $32 billion in cuts planned across the department, programs critical to health, independence, and advocacy are once again on the chopping block.

Among the most concerning proposals are cuts to essential initiatives run through the Administration for Community Living (ACL). These include:

• University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs)
• Chronic Disease Self-Management Education
• Limb Loss and Paralysis Resource Centers
• Voting Access for People with Disabilities
• The White House Conference on Aging

The paralysis resource center, which has provided vital information and community connection, is among those facing complete elimination.

These cuts come in addition to ongoing debates in Congress over proposed reductions to Medicaid, Medicare, and SNAP. These safety net programs are still being reviewed by the Senate, but their future remains uncertain. The combined potential impact? Fewer resources, more barriers, and a growing sense of being left behind.

Not all is lost in the current proposal. In a move that suggests someone in the budget process remembered the importance of holistic care, several previously threatened programs have been spared, at least for now. These include:

• Developmental Disabilities Councils
• Protection and Advocacy (P&A) systems
• The Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
• National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)
• Lifespan Respite Care Program
• State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)

These programs remain under the ACL umbrella but are now slated to move together to the Administration for Children, Families, and Communities (ACFC) rather than being scattered across multiple agencies. While the consolidation is a smart strategy for preserving program integrity, the ACFC itself is still facing significant cuts.

This budget proposal highlights the need for continued advocacy and engagement from the disability community. Cuts to these programs affect people’s ability to live independently, access care, and make their voices heard.

The federal government officially shut down on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass a spending bill to keep agencies funded (American Association of People with Disabilities, 2025). That political stalemate is now rippling through essential services, with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) caught in the crossfire.

The SNAP program, administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides monthly benefits to help low-income households buy groceries. In 2024, more than 41 million Americans relied on SNAP each month, including about two-thirds of recipients who are families with children and nearly 25 percent who are individuals with disabilities or older adults (U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2025). The program is a critical safety net that keeps millions from falling into food insecurity, especially during times of inflation or unemployment.

States are warning that if the shutdown continues, November SNAP benefits will be delayed or withheld entirely (ABC News, 2025). Although most October payments were issued before the funding lapse, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has said it will not use emergency funds to cover November benefits (Reuters, 2025). In response, more than twenty states have filed lawsuits challenging the administration’s decision to withhold aid (Politico, 2025).

For marginalized and disabled communities, this is a matter of survival. Low-income families, disabled individuals, and older adults already face higher rates of food insecurity (CBS News, 2025). Many rely on SNAP to make ends meet, and a disruption means choosing between food, rent, or medication (Atlanta News First, 2025). People with disabilities, who often depend on fixed incomes and additional medical support, are particularly vulnerable when food access is limited (The Arc, 2025).

I am witnessing this administration bring out the worst in people who now echo talking points that lack empathy. Maybe it is just me, but I believe our tax dollars should be used to feed our citizens, especially children. Allowing them to go hungry for the sake of a political standoff is abhorrent. We are all one paycheck closer to needing programs like SNAP than we are to ever joining the billionaire class. When those in power use hunger as a weapon, it is the farthest thing from fiscal responsibility and leadership.

Community food banks and advocacy groups are preparing for an increase in need as benefits stall. Local organizations are urging recipients to preserve remaining benefits, monitor state alerts, and lean on food-bank networks in the meantime (AARP, 2025).

As a support group leader, I regularly hear from people with spinal cord injuries and disabilities who are pushed into nursing facilities during medical crises, housing gaps, or caregiver burnout. These placements are not rare and they are far not safe. Nursing homes are already plagued by chronic understaffing, neglect, and preventable harm, problems the federal government itself has repeatedly documented (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services [HHS], 2022).

In 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule requiring Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing homes to maintain 24/7 registered nurse coverage, acknowledging overwhelming evidence that adequate staffing is essential to resident safety (CMS, 2024). That rule was just repealed before it could be fully implemented, eliminating enforceable federal staffing minimums in long-term care facilities (Federal Register, 2025).

For people with complex disabilities, staffing is not optional. It is the difference between timely care and medical neglect. Rolling back these protections lowers the floor in a system that was already failing its most vulnerable residents. This repeal is a predictable decision that will increase preventable injury, suffering, and death in facilities many disabled people are forced into when community-based supports are unavailable.

“They got money for wars, but can’t feed the poor” – Tupac Shakur

The United States and Israel initiated military action against Iran on February 28, 2026 (Britannica, 2026). This conflict is currently estimated to cost approximately $1 billion per day (Warren, 2026). To sustain this spending, Republican leadership in the House is currently drafting a reconciliation bill aimed at diverting $200 billion toward war efforts and immigration enforcement (Anadolu Ajansı, 2026).

These funds are slated to come from further reductions to federal health programs. This follows the major healthcare legislation passed last summer, which already cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and allowed Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits to expire, causing premiums to double for millions (Democrats.org, 2026).

Why is it so easy to target already disenfranchised populations? Why is the first response always to take from those who need the most, all to fund a war without Congressional approval? It is lazy and cruel.

The 2027 budget proposal released on Friday, April 3, 2026, outlines a massive shift in federal spending, clearly angled at bolstering the military at the expense of the people. President Trump is requesting $1.5 trillion for the military—a 42% increase—to fund “Operation Epic Fury” in Iran and the “Golden Dome” missile defense system. To pay for this, the administration is proposing $73 billion in cuts to non-defense programs (Office of Management and Budget, 2026).

The following is an itemized breakdown of the proposed cuts to—and eliminations of—various federal programs:

It is worth noting that this is currently an ask from the President. For the fiscal budget to be approved, it must survive Congressional and Senate votes, likely facing many revisions and concessions throughout the process. Ultimately Congress “holds the purse” and is responsible for the federal budget. That being said, if last year showed us anything, it’s that Republicans will tow the party line and vote this atrocious budget in if they still hold the majority.

The proposed 2027 budget represents a further dismantling of the programs that allow disabled and marginalized individuals to live equitably. By completely eliminating Community Development Block Grants ($3.3 billion) and Affordable Housing Construction Grants ($1.3 billion), the administration strikes at the foundation of independent living (Office of Management and Budget, 2026). This will force disabled individuals into institutional settings or homelessness . Furthermore, the $5 billion cut to public health and mental health services, alongside the total removal of vocational training ($1.5 billion) and senior job programs ($395 million), effectively locks marginalized communities out of the workforce and strips away the specialized care required for daily survival (Office of Management and Budget, 2026).

Tinfoil hat time: These cuts are intentional, war or not. The US has fought countless wars without defunding everything. These cuts are this administration’s way of further eliminating programs that they don’t agree with, discarding initiatives that prevent strip-mining what’s left of the US. This is blatantly using military conflict to swap in another DOGE-esque approach to the bureaucracy, which was an abject failure.

AAPD. (2025, April 22). Explaining ED: What Trump’s recent executive order means for disabled students. American Association of People with Disabilities. https://www.aapd.com/explaining-ed-recent-actions

AARP. (2025). Government shutdown could disrupt SNAP benefits for older adults. https://www.aarp.org/advocacy/government-shutdown-snap-benefits/

ABC News. (2025). States start halting SNAP benefits amid shutdown. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/states-start-halting-snap-benefits-amid-shutdown/story?id=126716354

American Association of People with Disabilities. (2025). Explainer: What the government shutdown means for SNAP, WIC, and disability programs. https://www.aapd.com/explainer-what-the-government-shutdown-means-for-snap-wic-and-disability-programs/

American Association of People with Disabilities. (2025). HHS Draft Budget Explainer. https://www.aapd.com/hhs-draft-budget-explainer

Anadolu Ajansı. (2026, March 30). US Republicans consider health care cuts to fund Iran war, Axios reports. https://www.aa.com.tr/en/americas/us-republicans-consider-health-care-cuts-to-fund-iran-war-axios-reports/3885415

Associated Press. (2025, May 12). House Republicans propose sweeping Medicaid cuts under budget bill. https://apnews.com/article/1e2b12a91a3d12ceb0420ce7053de58e

Atlanta News First. (2025). Metro Atlanta food banks continue helping families as government shutdown impacts SNAP benefits. https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2025/11/05/metro-atlanta-food-banks-continue-helping-families-government-shutdown-impacts-snap-benefits/

Baker McKenzie. (2025, October 2). North America: Federal strategy on domestic terrorism includes focus on nonprofit foundations, entities, and individuals. https://insightplus.bakermckenzie.com/bm/dispute-resolution/north-america-federal-strategy-on-domestic-terrorism-includes-focus-on-nonprofit-foundations-entities-and-individuals

Barron’s. (2025, May 12). GOP Medicaid overhaul would cut insurance for millions. https://www.barrons.com/articles/medicaid-cuts-news-gop-bill-86c9f139

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. (2026, March 23). Stop the “Civil Death” of our veterans: Oppose the Veterans Care Protection Act. [Social media post]. Instagram.

Britannica. (2026, March 17). 2026 Iran War | Explained, United States, Israel, Strait of Hormuz, Map, & Conflict. https://www.britannica.com/event/2026-Iran-War

Castillo, V., & Neas, K. (2025, April 18). The top 5 ways Project 2025 would hurt disabled people. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-top-5-ways-project-2025-would-hurt-disabled-people/

CBS News. (2025, July 1). Comparing Medicaid cuts in House and Senate versions of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/comparing-medicaid-cuts-house-senate-trump-big-beautiful-bill

CBS News. (2025). Government shutdown: SNAP benefits could be delayed if funding isn’t restored. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/government-shutdown-snap-benefits-delayed-usda/

CDMRP. (2025). FY25 Appropriations Summary. https://cdmrp.health.mil/pubs/press/2025/FY25_Appropriations.aspx

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2024). CMS finalizes minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-finalizes-minimum-staffing-standards-long-term-care-facilities

Charity & Security Network. (2025, October 2). Summary and Commentary: Presidential Memorandum on Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence. https://charityandsecurity.org/analysis/summary-and-commentary-presidential-memorandum-on-countering-domestic-terrorism-and-organized-political-violence/

Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. (2025). President’s budget eliminates funding for the Paralysis Resource Center – Act now. https://blog.christopherreeve.org/en/daily-dose/presidents-budget-eliminates-funding-for-the-paralysis-resource-center-act-now

Clarke, H. (2025, March 12). House passes bill that includes 57% budget cut to medical research programs. Urology Times. https://www.urologytimes.com/view/house-passes-bill-that-includes-57-budget-cut-to-medical-research-programs

Coleman, V., Sanders, T., Jacobs, J., & Umansky, E. (2026, March 12). Veterans who depend on mental health care keep losing their therapists under Trump. ProPublica. https://www.propublica.org/article/veterans-affairs-mental-health-therapists-quit-trump

Common Defense Education Fund. (2025). VA: Not for sale tracker — National workforce analysis. https://commondefense.us/campaign/va-not-for-sale/

Democrats.org. (2026, March 30). NEW: Trump and Republicans Want To Make Even More Cuts to Health Care To Pay for Their War of Choice With Iran. https://democrats.org/news/new-trump-and-republicans-want-to-make-even-more-cuts-to-health-care-to-pay-for-their-war-of-choice-with-iran/

Department of Veterans Affairs. (2026a, March 11). VA and DOJ partner to provide legal lifelines for vulnerable veterans. [Press release]. https://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/

Department of Veterans Affairs. (2026b, March 25). Testimony before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs regarding the Veterans Care Protection Act.

DLA Piper. (2025, January 29). President Trump revokes federal diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. https://knowledge.dlapiper.com/dlapiperknowledge/globalemploymentlatestdevelopments/2025/president-trump-revokes-federal-diversity-equity-and-inclusion

Exec. Order No. 14183, 90 Fed. Reg. 2025-02178 (2025). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Order_14183

Federal Register. (2025). Medicare and Medicaid programs; repeal of minimum staffing standards for long-term care facilities. https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/12/03/2025-21792/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-repeal-of-minimum-staffing-standards-for-long-term-care-facilities

Foley & Lardner LLP. (2025, January 26). President Trump ends affirmative action requirements for federal contractors. https://www.foley.com/insights/publications/2025/01/president-trump-ends-affirmative-action-requirements-for-federal-contractors

Healthcare Dive. (2025). Trump administration repeals Biden-era nursing home staffing mandate. https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/trump-administration-repeals-biden-era-nursing-home-staffing-mandate/806879/

Inclusivity Consulting. (2025, January 24). Trump transgender executive order threatens people with disabilities. https://inclusivity.consulting/2025/01/24/trump-transgender-executive-order-threatens-people-with-disabilities

Interfaith Alliance. (2025, November 21). NSPM-7: Co-opting National Security to Suppress Dissent. https://www.interfaithalliance.org/post/nspm-7-co-opting-national-security-to-suppress-dissent

Kaine, T., Gillibrand, K., Blumenthal, R., Schumer, C. E., & Heinrich, M. (2025). Letter to VA Secretary on PACT Act Implementation and Contract Cancellations. U.S. Senate. https://www.kaine.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/pact_act_letter.pdf

Kaiser, J., & Reardon, S. (2025). Biomedical research takes hits in U.S. budget deal. AAAS Articles DO Group. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.z10md5i

MarketWatch. (2025, June 30). Senate strikes key Medicaid cuts from reconciliation bill before passage. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/trump-medicaid-cuts-dealt-major-blow-in-senate-imperiling-tax-bill-5325d22a

National Disability Rights Network. (2026, March 26). Disabled veterans should not lose their rights because the system failed to support them. [Social media post]. Instagram.

New York Magazine. (2025, May 13). GOP’s stealth Medicaid cuts mean millions will lose coverage. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/gops-stealth-medicaid-cuts-mean-millions-will-lose-coverage.html

New York Post. (2025, May 12). Republicans unveil spending cuts for Trump’s “big, beautiful” budget bill. https://nypost.com/2025/05/12/us-news/republicans-unveil-900b-in-spending-cuts-for-trumps-big-beautiful-bill

NowThis Impact. (2026, May 29). They call it ‘fiscal discipline.’ We call it ‘starving children.’ YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/post/Ugkx4WHHBkgwnntEhg_sq1QwGCdVHcFiUt1S

Office of Management and Budget. (2026, April). Budget of the U.S. Government, Fiscal Year 2027. U.S. Government Publishing Office. https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/budget_fy2027.pdf

Politico. (2025, June 28). Fresh megabill text overnight: what’s in and what’s out. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/28/megabill-reconciliation-parliamentarian-00431082

Politico. (2025). 25 states sue Trump administration over withholding food-aid funding. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/10/28/25-states-sue-trump-snap-food-aid-shutdown-00625431

Reeve Foundation. (2026, February 4). This Win is Thanks to You, Our Advocates: Spending Bill Passes with Full Support for NPRC – Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. https://www.christopherreeve.org/get-involved/advocate-for-change/paralysis-resource-center-funding-updates/this-win-is-thanks-to-you-our-advocates-spending-bill-passes-with-full-support-for-nprc/

Reuters. (2025, May 2). Trump budget proposes drastic cuts to U.S. scientific research. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/trump-budget-proposes-drastic-cuts-us-scientific-research-2025-05-02

Reuters. (2025). USDA memo says it will not use emergency funds for November food benefits. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/usda-memo-says-it-will-not-use-emergency-funds-november-food-benefits-2025-10-24/

Rodreick, M. (2025). $40M in SCI Research Just Got Eliminated – Here’s What You Can Do. U2fp.org. https://u2fp.org/get-educated/article/40m-in-sci-research-just-got-eliminated—heres-what-you-can-do.html

Senate Roll Call Vote 83. (2025). On the Amendment (Blumenthal Amdt. No. 659 to S.Con.Res. 7). U.S. Senate. https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00083.htm

Steenhuysen, J., & Borter, G. (2025, May 2). Trump budget proposes drastic cuts to US scientific research. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/trump-budget-proposes-drastic-cuts-us-scientific-research-2025-05-02/

Stoffer, J. (2026). SCIRP Funding Restored! U2fp.org. https://u2fp.org/get-educated/article/scirp-funding-restored.html

TASH. (2025, April 30). TASH statement on proposed changes to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://tash.org/tash-statement-on-proposed-changes-to-the-us-department-of-health-and-human-services/

The Arc. (2025). Federal government shutdown: What people with disabilities should know. https://thearc.org/blog/federal-government-shutdown-what-people-with-disabilities-should-know/

The Daily Beast. (2025, July 1). GOP Senator blasts Trump’s bill moments after voting for it. https://www.thedailybeast.com/gop-senator-blasts-trumps-bill-moments-after-voting-for-it

The Washington Post. (2025, May 22). Trump’s budget bill passes House as Senate prepares to revise it. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/22/trump-budget-bill-congress/

Thompson, C. (2025, April 25). Mental health services lose $1 billion in new budget plan. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/00bec2d96371f023ac56fe3f32f3e92f

TypeWell. (2025, February 2). Accessibility at risk: The unfolding impact of 2025 policy shifts on disability services in the United States. https://typewell.com/accessibility-at-risk-the-unfolding-impact-of-2025-policy-shifts-on-disability-services-in-the-united-states

Ujifusa, A. (2025, March 20). Civil rights, research, and more: What’s hit hardest by massive Education Department cuts. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/civil-rights-research-and-more-whats-hit-hardest-by-massive-ed-dept-cuts/2025/03

Unite 2 Fight Paralysis. (2025). Save SCIRP: Take Action to Restore SCI Research Funding. U2FP. Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://u2fp.org/get-involved/save-scirp.html

U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2025). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Data and Statistics. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap

U.S. Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs. (n.d.). Spinal Cord Injury Research Program (SCIRP). Retrieved April 27, 2025, from https://cdmrp.health.mil/scirp/default

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Office of Inspector General. (2022). Nursing home staffing shortages and resident harm. https://oig.hhs.gov/reports-and-publications/workplan/summary/wp-summary-0000566.asp

U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. (2025). Senate Republicans Vote Against Toxic-Exposed Veterans and Survivors, Tank Senator Blumenthal’s Amendment to Protect the PACT Act. https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2025/2/senate-republicans-vote-against-toxic-exposed-veterans-and-survivors-tank-senator-blumenthal-s-amendment-to-protect-the-pact-act

U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. (2026). Cuts and chaos: The impact of hiring freezes on the Veterans Crisis Line and mental health access. https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2026/1/cuts-and-chaos-report-on-veterans-crisis-line-staffing

U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. (2026). Cuts, Cover-Ups, & Chaos: Blumenthal Releases Report Exposing Harm of the Trump Administration’s Ongoing Assault on Veterans. https://www.veterans.senate.gov/2026/1/cuts-cover-ups-chaos-blumenthal-releases-report-exposing-harm-of-the-trump-administration-s-ongoing-assault-on-veterans

Wallace, G. (2025, May 2). How Trump’s budget proposals could affect lower-income Americans. Axios. https://www.axios.com/2025/05/03/trump-budget-low-income

Supreme Court to Decide If Disability Rights Really Matter

This week (4/28/2025), the Supreme Court will hear arguments in A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, a case that could severely weaken protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (SCOTUSblog, 2025). If you care about accessibility and basic human dignity, this case demands your attention.

At the heart of this case is a critical question:

Should disabled individuals be required to prove that discrimination was carried out “in bad faith” or due to “gross misjudgment” in order to defend their rights (National Disability Rights Network, 2025)?

In plain English, if a school, business, or public building fails to provide basic accommodations such as ramps, interpreters, or accessible restrooms, under this proposed standard, disabled individuals could lose their right to seek justice unless they could demonstrate intentional cruelty or recklessness.

Intent would be prioritized over impact.

Consider the implications:

• A restaurant without a wheelchair ramp? “They did not mean to exclude you.”
• A school refusing to provide a sign language interpreter or support an Individualized Education Program (IEP)? “Maybe they simply did not think it was necessary.”

Without bad intent, there could be no accountability.

This case began as a relatively narrow dispute involving accommodations for a disabled student in K-12 education. However, recent filings suggest a broader aim. The interpretation may be expanded to apply across the board, affecting every disabled person who relies on ADA or Section 504 protections (Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, 2025).

This shift would dramatically increase the burden on disabled Americans to enforce their basic civil rights. With an already sluggish Department of Justice oversight process, many disabled individuals could be left without meaningful recourse (Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, 2025).

Rights are meaningless if people are forced to beg for them.

Rights are meaningless if individuals must prove someone meant to hurt them.

Accessibility is not a favor. It is a legal and moral obligation. It is not something that only matters when “malicious intent” can be proven. This case threatens to reverse decades of hard-won progress and would make it much easier for public institutions and businesses to ignore accessibility standards without consequence.

Watch this case closely. Speak out. Organize. Our rights are not guaranteed unless we fight for them.

On May 16, 2025, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued a rule removing specific accessibility requirements for new construction projects that receive federal funding. DOE stated this is part of an effort to reduce regulatory overlap, claiming that existing federal disability laws already provide enough coverage. However, for the disability community, this change raises serious concerns about equal access in the spaces funded by taxpayer dollars.

What’s Changing?
DOE-funded construction projects will no longer have to follow DOE-specific guidelines for accessibility. Instead, they will rely on broader laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These laws are important, but they do not always address the unique needs of federally assisted programs or guarantee consistent enforcement.

Now more than ever, we must stay alert. Removing these requirements may seem minor on paper, but the real-world consequences affect who gets to participate, who feels welcome, and who gets left out.

Read the official document here:
DOE-HQ-2025-0015-0001 on Regulations.gov

As we approach the 2026 midterm elections, the landscape of American democracy is being reshaped by a sustained campaign against the very systems that ensure every voice is heard. This movement is led by President Trump and his administration, whose current standing with the American public reflects a deeply divided nation. Recent polling highlights significant challenges for the administration. A Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll released in early May 2026 shows his disapproval rating has climbed to a record high of 62%, while his overall approval rating sits at just 37%. Despite this broad dissatisfaction, his support remains solidified among the Republican faithful at 85%, creating a sharp contrast between a skeptical general public and a loyal partisan base.

This climate of polarization is fueled by a narrative that consistently portrays the democratic process as flawed or illegitimate. His frequent claims that the system is broken serve as a justification for extraordinary interventions, such as the recent calls to halt active primary elections and redraw congressional maps mid-cycle. By framing the standard administration of elections as a threat to national security, this rhetoric effectively demonizes the traditional pillars of the American voting system. These actions create a dangerous precedent where the rules of democracy are treated as tools for partisan gain rather than a protected right for all citizens.

Supplement 8/22/2025 Eliminating Mail-in Voting and Its Impact on the Disability Community

President Trump announced plans to sign an executive order banning mail-in ballots and voting machines before the 2026 midterms. The problem is that elections are run by the states, not the president, and federal overreach will face immediate legal challenges (AP News, 2025; Roll Call, 2025).

Mail-in voting is not just convenient, it is essential. People with disabilities, chronic illnesses, or mobility barriers rely on it to participate safely and equally in elections. Caregivers also depend on this option to support those who cannot easily get to a polling place (Time, 2025).

Eliminating mail-in voting would strip away one of the most accessible options available. Even alternatives like drop boxes or curbside voting are inconsistent and often fail to meet ADA standards (Washington Post, 2025). This proposal would make civic participation harder, not safer.

Accessible voting is not partisan. It is a civil right. Rolling it back would silence millions, especially disabled Americans, and weaken the foundations of democracy.

Update 1: 5/29/2026 USPS Formally Advances Trump’s Order on Mail-In Voting

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has issued a proposed administrative rule that represents an aggressive shift in how mail-in ballots are handled for federal elections. Released on Friday, May 29, 2026, the 20-page proposal seeks to implement President Trump’s March executive order titled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections”. Under the new guidelines, states would no longer have autonomous control over mail ballot distribution. Instead, local election offices must submit voter data and specific ballot-barcode information to the federal government at least 30 days before mailing periods begin. The United States Constitution explicitly grants individual states the authority to manage their own election procedures, but this federal administrative mandate dangerously strips away that local control.

Crucially, the rule grants the USPS authority to verify outbound and inbound mailings against these federally approved voter lists. If a voter does not appear in the federal database, the postal service can refuse delivery or reject the ballot entirely. While the proposal explicitly exempts military and overseas voters under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), voting rights advocates warn of severe broader consequences. They argue the mandate will enforce an unconstitutional expansion of federal authority over state-run elections and burden local jurisdictions with expensive envelope redesigns and new barcode technology. This rule was advanced just one day after a federal judge declined to block the initial executive order, stating a lawsuit was premature until federal agencies took concrete action.

Goodness, I wish so badly for this to have been an April fools joke. Until further notice, April fools is canceled because nothing can be a bigger joke than our current government.

Before I dive into this case currently being argued in the Supreme Court, I want to state something about the Constitution that I wish more people understood. Liberties aren’t a gift of the government; in fact, they’re quite the opposite. We are born with an inalienable rights. The Constitution exists to ensure that the government can’t take these rights away. Putting it simply, no matter how the executive tries to paint it, the Constitution isn’t a permission slip for the people; it’s a leash for the government.

This simple fact is why it angers me to no end when I witness blatant government overreach and attacks to the Constitution. I recognize that if I start tracking every challenge that the executive branch creates to civil rights, this advocacy page will be completely saturated. I try to focus strictly on topics impacting the disability community, because this is a disability blog, but truthfully, I have become extremely disillusioned with government. It is hard to have faith in a system that continuously targets marginalized communities, especially being part of one. Writing helps me, and this landmark ruling deserves to be documented here. This supplement will track Trump v. Barbara as it moves through the Supreme Court.

Trump v. Barbara challenges an executive order ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented parents. The administration argues that “jurisdiction” requires political allegiance, while critics like Sheehan (2025) point to the 1898 Wong Kim Ark precedent, which says birth on U.S. soil equals citizenship, period.

The Supreme Court is using judicial review to decide if this order violates the Constitution. By taking the case immediately via “certiorari before judgment,” the Court acknowledges that redefining who belongs in America is a high-stakes constitutional emergency.

A ruling for the administration would narrow the 14th Amendment and potentially create a permanent subclass of residents. Sheehan (2025) warns that using an executive order to bypass the formal amendment process undermines the democratic framework and the 5th Amendment’s promise of due process.

While I am certainly not a Supreme Court Justice tasked with interpreting the constitution, I do have this platform to voice my thoughts. Here they are:

This executive order is a calculated attempt to consolidate power by narrowing the American electorate to favor a specific political base. Rooted in racism and a profound contempt for marginalized groups, this policy treats citizenship as a revocable privilege rather than an inherent right. For the disability community, this precedent is a direct threat; if the state can strip away birthright protections, then what protections are there for anyone? This creates a dangerous path where the rights and essential services of ANY population can be discarded whenever they are deemed politically inconvenient or burdensome.

There is no longer a time to sit out on politics. This impacts all of us, whether we want to recognize that or not.

Executive Absolution and the “Anti-Weaponization” Slush Fund

In a terrifying fusion of personal grievance and federal power, President Donald Trump has engineered an unprecedented legal settlement that effectively legalizes self-enrichment and shielding from the law. The arrangement, executed through the Department of Justice, resolves a $10 billion lawsuit Trump filed against the Internal Revenue Service (an already absolutely insane thing for a sitting president to be doing to his own government) over the unauthorized disclosure of his tax returns (Al Jazeera, 2026). However, rather than concluding with a traditional civil resolution, the settlement creates a multi-billion-dollar apparatus that critics have labeled a taxpayer-funded political slush fund.

Administered by Trump’s own appointed Acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche (who previously served as Trump’s personal defense attorney in multiple criminal matters), the Department of Justice established a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” (PBS NewsHour, 2026a). Officially, the administration frames the fund as a mechanism to compensate victims of “lawfare” who were allegedly targeted by the previous administration’s legal system. In reality, the criteria for the fund are absurd. Blanche testified before Congress that he would not rule out payouts to individuals convicted of violent offenses during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot (NPR, 2026). What are we even doing? Why would Trump defend and reward Jan 6 defendants if his supporters claim they were actually Antifa or crisis actors? There is a clear contradiction here: if Jan 6 was an inside job by Democrats and infiltrators, why is Trump offering legal defense and pardons to the people arrested? This is so embarrassing, and shame on you if you’ve ever believed the obvious bullshit.

This fiscal arrangement raises obvious constitutional concerns, specifically regarding Section 4 of the Fourteenth Amendment. This clause explicitly forbids the United States government from paying any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States (U.S. Const. art. XIV, § 4). Critics and watchdogs contend that using nearly $1.8 billion in public tax dollars to subsidize the legal fees, lost wages, or incarceration costs of convicted January 6 rioters directly violates this constitutional safeguard. By treating individuals who engaged in a violent assault on the Capitol as victims deserving of federal restitution, the executive branch is actively financing the remnants of a rebellion. This screams “loyalty above law“.

Simultaneously, the settlement contains an addendum that grants total immunity to the president and his immediate family. This. Is. Nuts. A one-page document signed by Blanche permanently bars the IRS from prosecuting or pursuing any past tax claims against Donald Trump, his adult sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, or the Trump Organization (Walsh & Rosen, 2026). This blanket document applies to all tax returns filed before the settlement took effect, shutting down active and potential audits into the family’s complex financial network. Blatant corruption right in our faces.

This effectively grants the Trump family a status above the law, utilizing a civil settlement to achieve broad financial immunity that bypasses traditional judicial overwatch. The public is left with a stark reality: public tax dollars are being diverted into a fund accessible to political allies and insurrectionists, while the chief executive secures permanent immunity from the very agency responsible for auditing the financial transparency of the office.

Stock Markets and Executive Enrichment

Beyond the creation of federal funds to reward political allies, questions of systemic corruption extend directly into individual financial holdings and corporate structures tied closely to the presidency. Throughout his tenure, Donald Trump’s involvement with proprietary public entities has blurred the lines between statecraft and financial gain. Fluctuations in stock reports tied to Trump’s ventures have historically moved in tandem with his political fortunes, raising concerns about insider trading and the monetization of public office. According to a recent financial report, Donald Trump filed a delayed Q1 2026 trading disclosure revealing that he engaged in more than 3,600 stock transactions worth between $220 million and $750 million, many of which involved companies directly regulated by his administration (Interval News, 2026). Furthermore, the report notes that both Trump and Vice President JD Vance have requested a 45-day extension on their annual 2025 financial disclosures (Interval News, 2026).

When a sitting president maintains active financial interests in companies whose market values respond directly to executive actions, regulatory decisions, and foreign policy pronouncements, the potential for market manipulation increases significantly. Traditional conflict-of-interest statutes generally mandate that high-ranking officials divest from private entities or place their assets into a blind trust to maintain public confidence. The avoidance of these ethical standards, paired with the immunization of past financial records, paints a troubling portrait of modern executive overreach, where the machinery of government is repurposed to insulate private wealth and subsidize political loyalty.

Adelman, L. (2019). The Roberts Court’s assault on democracy. Harvard Law & Policy Review, 14, 131–158

Al Jazeera. (2026, May 18). Trump drops IRS lawsuit, sets up $1.7bn US anti-weaponisation fund. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/5/18/trump-drops-irs-lawsuit-sets-up-1-7bn-us-anti-weaponisation-fund

American Council of the Blind. (2025, April 12). Update on Texas v. Becerra case. https://www.acb.org/update-texas-v-becerra-case

AP News. (2025, August 21). Trump vows to change how elections are run. The US Constitution doesn’t give him that power. https://apnews.com/article/8be6dba80091fd7e6d8570814b34a7fe

Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law. (2025). Brief on A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools and its potential impact on ADA/504 enforcement. Retrieved from https://www.bazelon.org

Bedekovics, G., & Bryant, S. (2025). The SAVE Act: Overview and facts. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/The-SAVE-Act-Overview-and-Facts-1.pdf

CBS News. (2025, February 20). Airlines look to remove consumer protections for travelers who use wheelchairs. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/airlines-disabled-passengers-wheelchairs/

Democracy Docket. (2026, May 4). Supreme Court clears path for Louisiana to gerrymander mid-election. https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/supreme-court-clears-path-for-louisiana-to-gerrymander-mid-election/

Democracy Docket. (2026). Watson v. Republican National Committee. https://www.democracydocket.com/cases/mississippi-mail-in-ballot-receipt-deadline-challenge/

Dinsmore, J. (2025, September 30). U.S. passengers flying with wheelchairs will now have even less support against airlines. TravelHost. https://travelhost.com/airlines/usdot-wheelchair-law-changes

Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund. (2025). Action alert: DOE civil rights and Section 504. dredf.org

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. (2025, February 21). Texas v. Becerra case update. https://dredf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025.02.21_Texas-v-Becerra_Case-Update.pdf

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. (2026, January 23). Texas and Eight Other States Renew Attack on Section 504 and the Right of Disabled People to Live in their Communities. https://dredf.org/texas-and-eight-other-states-renew-attack-on-section-504-and-the-right-of-disabled-people-to-live-in-their-communities

Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund. (2025). Understanding the threats to ADA protections: Upcoming Supreme Court decisions. Retrieved from https://dredf.org

Disability Rights Mississippi. (2024). Amicus curiae brief in support of appellees in RNC v. Wetzel.

Editorial Board. (2026, January 20). How Trump Has Pocketed $1,408,500,000. The New York Times.

Engstrom, E. J. (2013). Partisan gerrymandering and the construction of American democracy. University of Michigan Press. https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.5085808

Evans, J., & Michaud, K. (2025). Central ideas in American government (15th ed.). Soomo Learning. https://www.webtexts.com

Federal Register. (2025a, May 16). Rescinding new construction requirements related to nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs (Vol. 90, No. 95). Office of the Federal Register. www.federalregister.gov

Federal Register. (2025b, December 9). Rescinding new construction requirements related to nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs; Further delay of effective date (Vol. 90, No. 235). Office of the Federal Register. www.federalregister.gov

Federal Voting Assistance Program. (n.d.). Mail transmission times. https://www.fvap.gov/vao/shipping-mail

Fortune. (2025, February 21). Airlines sue Department of Transportation over rule protecting wheelchair users. https://fortune.com/2025/02/21/airlines-lawsuit-transportation-department-rule-wheelchair-user-protection/

Honig, E. (Host). (2026, May 27). DOJ’s Slush Fund May Cost Todd Blanche the Attorney General’s Office [Audio podcast episode]. In The Counsel. CAFE Studios. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/dojs-slush-fund-may-cost-todd-blanche-the-attorney/id1551827752?i=1000769791824

Interval News. (2026, May 20). Ethics filing reveals Trump bought millions in stocks tied to administration deals.

Levine, M. (2024, March 27). States challenge updated disability protections in court. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/states-challenge-updated-disability-protections-court/story?id=108303402

Levitt, J. (2007). The truth about voter fraud. Brennan Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/legacy/Democracy/The%20Truth%20About%20Voter%20Fraud.pdf

Marimow, A. E. (2025, April 28). Justices seem sympathetic to student in disability discrimination case. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/28/supreme-court-disability-osseo-schools-accomodations/

Mobility Management. (2025, February 20). Airlines sue over DOT rule strengthening protections for wheelchair riders. https://mobilitymgmt.com/airlines-sue-over-dot-rule-strengthening-protections-for-wheelchair-riders/

National Conference of State Legislatures. (2024). Table 11: Receipt and postmark deadlines for absentee/mail ballots. https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/table-11-receipt-and-postmark-deadlines-for-absentee-mail-ballots

National Council on Disability. (2025, June 13). NCD advises DOE on rulemaking impacting people with disabilities. www.ncd.gov

National Council on Disability. (2024, March 20). NCD condemns lawsuit challenging disability civil rights protections. https://www.ncd.gov/newsroom/2024/ncd-condemns-lawsuit-challenging-disability-civil-rights-protections

National Disability Rights Network. (2025). A.J.T. v. Osseo: Why this case matters for disability rights. Retrieved from https://www.ndrn.org

National Education Association. (2025, June 16). DOE-HQ-2025-0015; Rescinding new construction requirements related to nondiscrimination in federally assisted programs or activities. https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/action-center/letters-testimony/doe-hq-2025-0015-rescinding-new-construction-requirements-related-nondiscrimination-federally

NPR. (2026, May 20). Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche defends new $1.8B Anti-Weaponization Fund. https://www.keranews.org/2026-05-20/acting-u-s-attorney-general-todd-blanche-defends-new-1-8b-anti-weaponization-fund

Ogletree Deakins. (2025, June 12). Supreme Court rejects heightened standard for student disability cases. https://ogletree.com/insights-resources/blog-posts/supreme-court-rejects-heightened-standard-for-student-disability-cases

PBS NewsHour. (2026a, May 18). Justice Department announces a $1.7 billion ‘Anti-Weaponization’ fund to compensate Trump allies. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/justice-department-announces-a-1-7-billion-anti-weaponization-fund-fund-to-compensate-trump-allies

PBS NewsHour. (2026b, May 19). U.S. government agrees to drop tax claims against Trump in broadening of IRS lawsuit settlement. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/u-s-government-agrees-to-drop-tax-claims-against-trump-in-broadening-of-irs-lawsuit-settlement

Ravel, A. (2019). A new kind of voter suppression in modern elections. The University of Memphis Law Review, 49, 1019–1063

Rescinding New Construction Requirements Related to Nondiscrimination in Federally Assisted Programs or Activities, 91 Fed. Reg. 10954 (Mar. 6, 2026) (to be codified at 10 C.F.R. pt. 1040). https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/FR-2026-03-06/2026-04455

Reuters. (2025, February 20). US airlines challenge Biden wheelchair passenger protection rule. https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-airlines-challenge-biden-wheelchair-passenger-protection-rule-2025-02-20/

Roll Call. (2025, August 20). White House changes course after Trump vows executive order to end mail-in voting.https://rollcall.com/2025/08/20/white-house-changes-course-after-trump-vows-executive-order-to-end-mail-in-voting

SCOTUSblog. (2025). Case preview: A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools. Retrieved from https://www.scotusblog.com

Sheehan, B. (2025, January 28). Interviewing myself about birthright citizenship. OMG WTF Is the Constitution. https://bensheehan.substack.com/p/a-clear-explanation-of-birthright

Sheehan, B. (2026, March 24). The GOP is messing with vote-by-mail. Politics Made Easy. https://bensheehan.substack.com/p/republicans-are-messing-with-vote

Shepardson, D. (2025, September 29). US will not enforce Biden wheelchair passenger protection rule. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/usdot-will-not-enforce-biden-wheelchair-passenger-protection-rule-2025-09-29/

Singman, B. (2025, April 29). Neil Gorsuch scolds Supreme Court litigator in rare, heated exchange: ‘I’m not finished’. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2025/04/29/media/neil-gorsuch-scolds-supreme-court-litigator-in-heated-exchange/

Spann, G. A. (2020). Gerrymandering justiciability. The Georgetown Law Journal, 108, 981–1025

Stockbridge, S. (2026, May 4). DeSantis signs new congressional map into law; lawsuit filed. Central Florida Public Media. https://www.cfpublic.org/politics/2026-05-04/desantis-signs-new-map

Supreme Court of the United States. (2025). A.J.T. v. Osseo Area Schools, Independent School District No. 279. https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/case-files/a-j-t-v-osseo-area-schools-independent-school-district-no-279/

The Arc. (2025). Texas v. Becerra threatens disability rights. https://thearc.org/resource/texas-v-becerra/

Time. (2025, August 21). Trump says only the U.S. votes by mail. Here are the facts. https://time.com/7310391/trump-mail-in-ballots-midterms-votes

United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898).

USA Today. (2025, February 19). Airlines challenge DOT’s rule protecting travelers with disabilities. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2025/02/19/airlines-challenge-dots-rule-travelers-disabilities/79115676007/

U.S. Const. amend. XIV, § 4.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2024, April 26). HHS finalizes rule to strengthen protections against discrimination in health care. https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/04/26/hhs-finalizes-rule-strengthen-protections-against-discrimination-health-care.html

U.S. Department of Justice [@TheJusticeDept]. (2026, June 1). The Department of Justice disagrees strongly with the decision on the Anti-Weaponization Fund [Post]. X. https://x.com/TheJusticeDept

U.S. Department of Transportation. (2024, December 12). Ensuring safe accommodations for air travelers with disabilities using wheelchairs [Final rule]. https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2024-12/Final%20Rule%20Ensuring%20Safe%20Accommodations%20for%20Air%20Travelers%20with%20Disabilities%20Using%20Wheelchairs.pdf

U.S. Department of Transportation. (2024, December 16). Secretary Buttigieg announces sweeping protections for airline passengers with disabilities. https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/secretary-buttigieg-announces-sweeping-protections-airline-passengers-disabilities

Walsh, J., Rosen, J. (2026, May 19). DOJ’s settlement with Trump bans IRS from taking action against him over old tax returns. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/doj-settlement-trump-bans-irs-taking-action-against-him/

Washington Post. (2025, August 21). Everyone loses when the federal government runs elections.https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/08/21/trump-mail-voting-executive-order

Wheelchair Travel. (2025, February 20). U.S. airlines sue to block disabled passenger protections and training requirements. https://wheelchairtravel.org/airlines-file-lawsuit-block-disabled-passenger-protections-training-requirements/

April 16, 2025, US Secretary of Health & Human Services RFK Jr. once again used his platform to spread dangerous misinformation, this time targeting the autistic community. In his speech, he leaned heavily on debunked claims linking vaccines to autism and described autism as a “modern epidemic” that must be reversed or prevented. This kind of language is not only scientifically baseless but also deeply dehumanizing.

Mark Geier, a long-discredited anti-vaccine figure who promoted false links between vaccines and autism while running clinics that pushed dangerous, unproven treatments, has no business shaping federal health policy. Geier has never held a valid medical license, his work has been widely condemned as unethical pseudoscience, and his theories were debunked years ago (Gorski, 2007). Yet he has now been appointed to a senior advisory role on vaccine policy and disability issues at the Department of Health and Human Services under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. Senator Maggie Hassan rightly warned that elevating a “fraudster” like Mark Geier risks reviving long-settled conspiracy theories and undermining public trust (Hassan, 2025). Bringing Geier into HHS is an insult to science, medicine, and the disability community, and it deserves far more outrage than it has received.

The irony here is bewildering. President Trump has stacked his cabinet with completely unqualified and inept yes-men (and women), while claiming that DEI policy is diminishing merit. I’ve actually never even heard the man used the words in the acronym. I’m not entirely sure he knows that it stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. You know, kinda like including his goons to rip apart every corner of the government.

RFK Jr. Moves to Dismantle Preventive Care Mainstay
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is reportedly planning to oust all 16 members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), calling the group too “woke” (Reuters, 2025; The Guardian, 2025). The USPSTF provides independent, evidence-based guidance—covering cancer screenings, HIV prevention, and more—that insurers must cover without cost. The American Medical Association responded with deep concern, urging that the task force’s expert, nonpartisan structure remain intact (CBS News, 2025; AMA, 2025).

Without the USPSTF, preventive care guidance may become medically inconsistent—or worse, politicized—potentially undermining insurance coverage and patient access to lifesaving services.

The federal government’s new health tracking program will aggregate private medical data from more than 60 major technology and healthcare companies, including Google, Apple, Amazon, CVS, and UnitedHealthcare, along with opt-in Medicaid and Medicare records (NHPR, 2025). While officials frame the system as a way to improve access and monitor wellness, privacy advocates warn that centralized health data could be weaponized against people with disabilities to justify benefit cuts, limit services, or reinforce harmful stereotypes (The Guardian, 2025). The program’s push to subsidize wearable health technology raises additional concerns, as many people cannot afford or physically use these devices, leading to biased data that underrepresents disabled and low-income populations and skews research and policy outcomes (Stat News, 2025). In light of the administration’s track record on exclusionary policy, advocates are demanding transparency, strict limits on data use, and meaningful community oversight before the program expands.

1. Trump’s New Executive Order: Federal Grants Under Political Oversight
President Trump signed a sweeping executive order shifting research-grant approvals from peer-reviewed scientific agencies like NIH and NSF into direct executive-branch control. This bypasses scientific experts and inserts a layer of ideological vetting, especially threatening studies focused on disability, race, gender, class disparities, or other structural inequities. Critics warn this risks censoring vital research into marginalized communities in favor of political priorities (Washington Post, 2025).

2. RFK Jr. Cancels $500 Million in mRNA Vaccine Funding
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revoked $500 million in mRNA research funding, cutting 22 programs. These projects included work on COVID-19, flu, bird flu, RSV, Ebola, and other threats. Experts caution that these cuts undermine pandemic preparedness and stall advancements in a transformative vaccine technology (Washington Post, 2025).

3. Violence, Misinformation & the Fallout at CDC
Shortly after Kennedy’s anti-mRNA rhetoric escalated, violence followed: a CDC staff shooting linked directly to anti-vaccine conspiracy thinking. Over 750 current and former public health workers have formally accused Kennedy of fueling hatred and violence against health workers through misinformation and the dismantling of expert advisory structures (The Guardian, 2025).

This Directly Impacts:

• Worker Safety & Trust: The spread of vaccine disinformation has tangible consequences, including threats and violence toward health workers.
• Science vs. Ideology: Replacing expert peer review with political oversight undermines the independence of federally funded research.
• Public Health Risk: mRNA technology, hailed for rapid vaccine design, is being sidelined at a time of global health vulnerability. Now we get to witness the resurfacing of viruses like Measles and Whooping Cough for literally no reason. Sweet.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently lost millions of dollars in federal health funding after publicly challenging policies advanced by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The terminated grants supported core child-health programs, including newborn hearing screening, safe infant sleep initiatives, adolescent and rural health services, and prevention efforts for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. These were not abstract research projects; they were programs that directly reached families, clinics, and communities across the country (Reuters, 2025; The Washington Post, 2025).

HHS officials claim the cuts reflect a shift in departmental priorities, citing objections to so-called “identity-based language” used by the AAP. But the timing is impossible to ignore. The AAP has been one of the most consistent medical voices pushing back against Kennedy’s public-health agenda, particularly his history of undermining vaccine science. When evidence-based pediatric care is defunded immediately after public criticism, it stops looking like policy and starts looking like retaliation (The Guardian, 2025).

Children do not get to opt out of political power struggles. When leadership decisions are driven by personal grievance and ideological fixation rather than science, the consequences land on infants, children, and families who rely on these systems to survive and thrive. This is what happens when ego outweighs evidence: essential safeguards disappear, trust erodes, and the most vulnerable pay the price.

On February 5, 2026, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at the Tennessee State Capitol as part of a national tour to promote his “Make America Healthy Again” initiative. During his remarks, he asserted that a ketogenic diet could “cure” schizophrenia and “erase” or “lose” a bipolar disorder diagnosis (Benen, 2026).

Kennedy specifically cited the work of Dr. Christopher Palmer, a Harvard Medical School psychiatrist. He claimed Palmer had “cured schizophrenia using keto diets,” referencing two case studies from 2019 (Lerer, 2026). While Dr. Palmer has acknowledged that a ketogenic diet can lead to significant symptom remission, he has publicly corrected Kennedy’s terminology. Palmer clarifies that he has never used the word “cure” in his research and stresses that these dietary interventions should never replace medical supervision or standard psychiatric medications (Associated Press, 2026).

Kennedy also mentioned that new research was forthcoming that would show patients losing their bipolar diagnoses through diet. Medical experts from the American Psychiatric Association have pushed back on these claims, noting that current evidence is based on very small, preliminary pilot studies. They warn that suggesting diet is a standalone cure could lead patients to dangerously abandon their prescribed treatments (Harris Green, 2026).

It turns out the real danger to public health is actually RFK Jr.

There truly is no “low” for this administration. They continue to punch down at every opportunity, this time targeting Durable Medical Equipment (DME)—the stuff that myself and millions of others need to survive, while also using Medicare and Medicaid funding as a bargaining chip to force compliance in cities that they are at odds with, currently targeting Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared before the House Ways and Means Committee, delivering testimony that has sent shockwaves through the disability and elderly advocacy communities. His comments regarding paid family caregiving have ignited a fierce debate over the future of Medicaid and the value of home-based labor.

Testifying on the proposed HHS budget, Secretary Kennedy targeted the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) and similar home-and community-based services (HCBS). Kennedy’s central thesis was that these programs, which allow Medicaid recipients to hire family members as caregivers, have become a primary vehicle for government waste. He specifically characterized these programs as being “rife with fraud,” suggesting that the federal government is effectively paying relatives for tasks they would otherwise perform for free out of familial obligation. Kennedy cited examples such as “balancing a checkbook” or “picking up groceries” as activities that have been inappropriately professionalized. He argued that the lack of oversight in private homes makes it impossible to verify if care is truly being delivered, positioning these programs as a “weighty contributor” to the national deficit. This rhetoric aligns with a broader administration push to implement stringent work requirements and significant funding caps on Medicaid expenditures.

Key Quote: “We are seeing a system where the government is billed for the basic duties of kinship… it is an unsustainable model that invites exploitation of the taxpayer.” — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., April 2026

The backlash from the disability community and healthcare organizations was swift. Organizations such as ANCOR and The Arc issued statements condemning the Secretary’s remarks as both factually inaccurate and deeply demeaning. The primary contention from opponents is that Kennedy’s description of caregiving—reducing it to simple errands—grossly misrepresents the reality of life for those with significant disabilities.

Critics pointed out that many family caregivers are performing skilled medical tasks, managing hygiene, and providing 24-hour supervision that would otherwise require institutionalization in a nursing home—a far more expensive alternative for the state. Furthermore, advocates emphasized the “Direct Support Professional” crisis; with a national shortage of professional caregivers, family members are often the only individuals available to prevent a total collapse of care for vulnerable citizens.

Economically, the opposition argues that these payments are not “handouts” but necessary income replacement. Many family caregivers are forced to leave the workforce entirely to care for a loved one. Removing this compensation would not only leave families in poverty but would likely force a mass migration of the disabled population into state-run institutions, ironically increasing the burden on the Medicaid budget that Kennedy claims to be protecting.

The controversy represents a fundamental ideological clash. While the administration views paid family care through the lens of fiscal discipline and fraud prevention, advocates view it as a civil rights issue and an essential pillar of the modern care economy. As the budget process moves forward, the pressure on the HHS to walk back these comments continues to mount from both sides of the political aisle.

Look, I am not naïve enough to think there aren’t cases of fraud within these systems. What I do know is that rhetoric like this is not only inappropriate, it is dangerous. My wife has been my paid caregiver under the VA’s Caregiver Support Program since my injury nine years ago. Without the benefits from the VA, I would not have stable and adequate care. I recognize that I am fortunate to be a part of the VA, but millions of others are not. Programs like the CDPAP exist because there is a recognized shortage of caregivers and PCA’s. Paying family to fulfill these roles addresses some of this vacuum. The question that arises here is whether or not the rare cases of exploitation amount to completely eliminating these programs. The answer should be simple, they do not. Implying that family members should stop their lives without fiscal compensation is absurd. To me, this privilege-riddled testimony demonstrates just how out of touch this administration is with the needs of the people. I don’t know, give this a listen, and you tell me:

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2026, March 18). AAP statement on federal court ruling regarding ACIP and childhood immunization schedules. https://www.aap.org/en/news-room

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2025, September 23). Science is clear: there is no link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism in children [Instagram post]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/acog_org

American Medical Association. (2025, July 27). AMA deeply concerned by reported USPSTF changes [Press release]. American Medical Association. https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-deeply-concerned-reported-uspstf-changes

Associated Press. (2026, March 19). RFK Jr. makes food sound like a miracle drug. Researchers say he often overstates the science. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/robert-kennedy-diet-food-schizophrenia-bipolar-diabetes-914787992e743f588ef02ed33242536e

Benen, S. (2026, February 6). RFK Jr. peddles another dubious pitch, claims keto diet could cure schizophrenia.MaddowBlog. https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/rfk-jr-keto-diet-cure-schizophrenia-health-secretar

Bia, M., Harris, B. J., Keren, R., & Handley, S. C. (2025). Trends in refusal of Vitamin K, Hepatitis B vaccine, and antibiotic eye ointment among U.S. newborns, 2017-2024. JAMA Pediatrics. [Advance online publication]. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2025.2977

Bloomberg Law. (2025, March 24). DNA data of 15 million people up for sale after 23andMe demise. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/23andme-demise-puts-15-million-users-dna-info-on-auction-block​

CBS News. (2025, April 22). RFK Jr. launches autism registry using Americans’ private health records. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-autism-study-medical-records/

CBS News. (2025, July 29). RFK Jr.’s plans for preventive health panel spark “deep concerns” from American Medical Association. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rfk-jr-preventive-health-panel-ama-concerns/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Vitamin K deficiency bleeding. https://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/breastfeeding-special-circumstances/diet-and-micronutrients/vitamin-k.html

Davidson, J. (2025, May 8). Autism and Disability Organizations Invite Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to Join National Roundtable Discussion; Kennedy Declines to Attend – AAPD. AAPD. https://www.aapd.com/autism-roundtable/

Democracy Now. (2026, May 1). Trump Administration seeks to slash SSI benefits for 400,000 disabled adults. https://www.democracynow.org/2026/5/1/headlines/propublica_trump_administration_seeks_to_slash_ssi_benefits_for_400_000_disabled_adults

Farber S. A. (2008). U.S. scientists’ role in the eugenics movement (1907-1939): a contemporary biologist’s perspective. Zebrafish, 5(4), 243–245. https://doi.org/10.1089/zeb.2008.0576

Florko, N. (2025, April 24). No new autism registry, HHS says, contradicting NIH director Jay Bhattacharya’s claim. STAT News. https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/24/no-new-autism-registry-hhs-says-contradicting-nih-director-jay-bhattacharya-claim/

Friedlander, H. (1995). The origins of Nazi genocide: From euthanasia to the final solution. University of North Carolina Press.

Frye, R. E., Slattery, J., Delhey, L., Furgerson, B., Strickland, T., Tippett, M., Sailey, A., Wynne, R., Rose, S., Melnyk, S., James, S. J., Sequeira, J. M., & Quadros, E. V. (2018). Folinic acid improves verbal communication in children with autism and language impairment: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Molecular Psychiatry, 23(2), 247–256. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27752075/

Gorski, D. H. (2007). Mark Geier: The latest “expert” on vaccine “injury.” Pediatrics, 119(6), 1217–1218. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1839225/

Ground News. (2026, March 23). Judge blocks US government from slimming down vaccine recommendations. https://ground.news/article/federal-judge-blocks-hhs-vaccine-changes

Harris Green, H. (2026, February 23). No evidence behind RFK Jr’s claim keto diet can cure schizophrenia, experts say. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/23/rfk-jr-keto-diet-schizophrenia

Hassan, M. (2025, April 25). Senator Hassan calls out HHS Secretary Kennedy for hiring fraudster to relitigate long-disproven theories. https://www.hassan.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-hassan-calls-out-hhs-secretary-kennedy-for-hiring-fraudster-to-relitigate-long-disproven-theories

Hornig, M., Magnusson, C., Dalman, C., & Hultman, C. (2025). Acetaminophen use in pregnancy and risk of autism spectrum disorder: Findings from sibling comparison studies. Journal of the American Medical Association Psychiatry, 82(6), 534-542. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2025.0789

Lerer, L. (2026, February 6). Kennedy makes unfounded claim that keto diet can “cure” schizophrenia. The New York Times.

McDermott, J. (2026, March 21). It’s not just vaccines — parents are refusing other routine preventive care for newborns. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/parents-refuse-newborn-care-vitamink-82d8c306d15a20c3548b1111516e453d

New Hampshire Public Radio. (2025, May 8). RFK Jr. says autism database will use Medicare and Medicaid info. NHPR. https://www.nhpr.org/2025-05-08/rfk-jr-says-autism-database-will-use-medicare-and-medicaid-info

ProPublica. (2026, April 28). The Trump Administration aims to penalize disabled adults who live with their families. https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-social-security-ssi-disability-benefits-cuts-parents-children

Reuters. (2025, December 17). U.S. health department cancels millions of dollars in grants to American Academy of Pediatrics. https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-health-department-cancels-millions-dollars-grants-american-academy-pediatrics-2025-12-17/

Reuters. (2025, July 25). US health secretary Kennedy to oust members of US Preventive Services Task Force, WSJ reports. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-health-secretary-kennedy-oust-members-us-preventive-task-force-wsj-reports-2025-07-25/

Rossignol, D. A., & Frye, R. E. (2021). Cerebral folate deficiency, folate receptor alpha autoantibodies and leucovorin (folinic acid) treatment in autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(11), 1141. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34834493/

Social Security Administration. (2025, October 24). Social Security announces 2.8 percent benefit increase for 2026. https://www.ssa.gov/news/en/press/releases/2025-10-24.html

Stat News. (2025, April 24). No new autism registry, HHS says, contradicting NIH director Jay Bhattacharya’s claim. Stat News. https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/24/no-new-autism-registry-hhs-says-contradicting-nih-director-jay-bhattacharya-claim/

Stern, A. M. (2005). Eugenic nation: Faults and frontiers of better breeding in modern America. University of California Press.

Stern, A. M., Novak, N. L., Lira, N., O’Connor, K., Harlow, S., & Kardia, S. (2017). California’s Sterilization Survivors: An Estimate and Call for Redress. American journal of public health, 107(1), 50–54. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303489

The Guardian. (2025, December 17). American Academy of Pediatrics loses government funding after criticizing RFK Jr. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/17/american-academy-pediatrics-funding-rfk

The Guardian. (2025, April 22). RFK Jr. proposes autism registry using personal medical data. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/22/rfk-jr-autism-nih

The Guardian. (2025, July 27). Top medical body concerned over RFK Jr’s reported plans to cut preventive health panel. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/27/rfk-jr-health-cuts-american-medical-association

The Guardian. (2025, August 20). US health agency workers accuse RFK Jr of fueling violence against them. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/20/hhs-workers-rfk-jr-violence-cdc

The Washington Post. (2025, December 17). American Academy of Pediatrics loses HHS funding after criticizing RFK Jr. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/12/17/aap-hhs-funding-rfk/

The Washington Post. (2025, August 6). How RFK Jr.’s mRNA crackdown affects vaccine-making and future pandemics. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/08/06/rfk-jr-mrna-vaccine-criticism

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025, September 22). FDA takes action to make a treatment available for autism symptoms. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-action-make-treatment-available-autism-symptoms

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2025, September 22). Autism announcement fact sheet. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/autism-announcement-fact-sheet.html

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2025, September 22). President Trump, Secretary Kennedy announce bold actions to tackle autism epidemic. HHS. https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-trump-kennedy-autism-initiatives-leucovorin-tylenol-research-2025.html

U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. (2026). Order granting preliminary injunction: American Academy of Pediatrics v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Washington Post. (2025, September 22). Trump and RFK Jr. suggest Tylenol poses autism risk, sparking backlash from doctors. https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/09/22/tylenol-pregnancy-autism-risk-rfk-jr/

President Trump announced on 3/20/2025, “We are eliminating the Department of Education once and for all” as he put pen to paper and signed an Executive Order to dismantle the Department of Education. It feels like I’m living in the movie Idiocracy.

All I see here is blatant discrimination. I urge anyone reading this to do research into the federal funding programs, and how they ensure equality.

Eliminating the Department of Education would weaken enforcement of key disability rights laws, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504. Without federal oversight, schools could more easily deny accommodations and discriminate against students with disabilities, especially if they do not have allocated funding for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Special education programs may be underfunded if federal IDEA funding is reduced (Peetz, 2025). States could deprioritize services like IEPs, speech therapy, and occupational therapy, harming students and families who rely on them.

Shifting public funds to private school vouchers could worsen segregation and educational inequities. Private schools aren’t always bound by IDEA, leaving students with disabilities at risk of exclusion, especially in underfunded districts. Higher education institutions may also face less ADA enforcement, reducing access to accommodations like accessible housing and assistive technology (Long, 2019). This could make it harder for students with disabilities to succeed. Finally, losing the Department would cut federal data collection on disability access, weakening advocacy efforts and making it harder to address disparities in educational equity.

The Republican Party advocates for the removal of the Department of Education based on the principle of federalism, arguing that the U.S. Constitution does not grant the federal government authority over education and that control should be returned entirely to the states and parents. Prominent conservative frameworks, such as Project 2025, further contend that the department has become a vehicle for “radical” and “woke” indoctrination, suggesting that its abolition is necessary to eliminate bureaucratic waste and ensure that public funds follow students to private or religious schools through universal school choice. For disabled students, these cuts signal the abandonment of a fifty-year federal commitment to ensuring every child has access to an education free from discrimination.

Major Changes in Federal Education Policy: Reassignments and Loan Collections

The Trump administration is dismantling the U.S. Department of Education, shifting special education and school nutrition programs to HHS and moving oversight of the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio to the SBA in the name of efficiency (Spectrum News, 2025; Reuters, 2025). At the same time, collections on defaulted student loans resume May 5, 2025, ending the pandemic pause and putting roughly 5.3 million borrowers back at risk of wage garnishment and tax refund seizure (AP News, 2025; Business Insider, 2025). While borrowers are urged to pursue rehabilitation or income-driven repayment to avoid harm (Investopedia, 2025), federal loan servicing has long been criticized for aggressive collections and poor guidance that disproportionately hit low-income and minority borrowers. As oversight shifts and protections potentially weaken, these moves raise serious concerns about transparency, borrower communication, and legal safeguards during a major and disruptive policy transition.

Federal Judge Blocks Closure of the Department of Education

In a major win for public education and disability rights, a Massachusetts federal judge has blocked President Trump’s executive order to shut down the U.S. Department of Education.

Judge Elaine McMahon ruled that the closure of an entire federal department requires an act of Congress, not just an executive decision. Her ruling also ordered the reinstatement of over 4,000 Department of Education employees who were terminated as part of the attempted shutdown.

While this ruling provides temporary relief, it comes at a time when the House is working to significantly cut education funding. The proposed budget would shift enforcement power to the states by turning funds into block grants. These grants would not include federal oversight or accountability.

For students with disabilities, many of whom rely on federal laws such as IDEA and IEP protections, this could result in inconsistent access to services based on where they live.

The administration has already filed an appeal, so the legal battle continues. For now, the Department of Education remains intact, and the fight for accessible and equitable education goes on. I will monitor the best I can.

The Department of Education has released a proposal that restructures how graduate programs are classified for federal borrowing. The plan introduces two borrowing systems. One system offers lower caps for most graduate students. The other offers higher caps for a limited set of “professional degree” programs. The initial list includes medicine, dentistry, law, veterinary medicine, pharmacy, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry, chiropractic medicine, theology, and clinical psychology (U.S. Department of Education, 2024).

Many essential health fields are not on the list. Advanced nursing, nurse practitioner programs, physician assistant studies, physical and occupational therapy, social work, speech language pathology, and counseling are all excluded. Since these programs often cost far more than the proposed lower loan limits, advocates warn that students may be priced out unless they turn to private loans (AACN, 2024).

This restructuring matters because these excluded professions make up the backbone of disability care. Disabled people rely on advanced practice nurses, therapists, social workers, and mental health providers to support daily living, independence, and long term health. If fewer students can afford to enter these fields, shortages will deepen. Waitlists for rehabilitation and home care will grow. Access will decline for those already facing barriers.

Trump has also proposed shifting or shrinking the Department of Education entirely, placing more authority with states. Moving federal responsibilities elsewhere could weaken enforcement of protections like IDEA and Section 504, which safeguard access to education for disabled students.

The bottom line is simple. Reclassifying who counts as a “professional degree” shapes who can afford to become part of the healthcare workforce. Disabled communities depend on those providers. Any policy that closes the door to future nurses, therapists, or social workers is not just a technical change. It affects care, equity, and independence for millions.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2024). AACN statement on proposed federal student loan borrowing limits. https://www.aacnnursing.org

Associated Press. (2025, July 10). Head Start will be cut off for immigrants without legal status, Trump administration says. AP News.

Associated Press. (2026, January 22). Trump administration drops appeal of ruling blocking anti-DEI guidance for schools and colleges. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/dei-education-department-lawsuit-appeal-ad150d5ab7747b9c782bc381890e5c8f

AP News. (2025, April 3). Millions of defaulted student loan borrowers to face collections again starting in May. https://apnews.com/article/d0662ba4383951cf14f17e5f20c3cc99

Binkley, C., & Megerian, C. (2025, March 19). Trump to order a plan to shut down the Education Department. AP News. https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-shutdown-b1d25a2e1bdcd24cfde8ad8b655b9843

Business Insider. (2025, April 4). Trump is reinstating penalties for student loan borrowers in default. https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-reinstating-penalties-default-student-loan-borrowers-treasury-offset-program-2025-4

Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California, 140 S. Ct. 1891 (2020).

Disability Rights Watch. (2025, August 7). Dept. of Health and Human Services reclassifies Head Start. Disability-Rights-Watch.com.

Education Week. (2025, October 10). A new wave of federal layoffs will hit the Education Department. https://www.edweek.org

Ford, C., Johnson, S., & Partelow, L. (2017, July 12). The Racist Origins of Private School Vouchers. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/racist-origins-private-school-vouchers/

Hawaii v. Trump, 878 F.3d 662 (9th Cir. 2017).

Inside Higher Ed. (2026, January 22). Education Department drops appeal of court order blocking anti-DEI guidance.Inside Higher Ed. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/politics-elections/2026/01/22/ed-drops-appeal-order-blocking-anti-dei-guidance

Investopedia. (2025, April 2). Department of Education will soon restart student loan collections and wage garnishments. https://www.investopedia.com/department-of-education-will-soon-restart-student-loan-collections-and-wage-garnishments-11719353

Jamison, P. (2025, May 23). Massachusetts judge blocks Trump order to close Department of Education. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/massachusetts-judge-blocks-trump-order-close-department-education-1898827

Jones, A. (2025, October 11). Special education staff decimated after Trump administration shutdown firings: Sources. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/special-education-staff-decimated-after-trump-administration-shutdown/story?id=126432474.com

Liptak, A. (2024, June 28). Supreme Court curtails nationwide injunctions by federal judges. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/28/us/politics/supreme-court-injunctions.html

Long, C. (2019). Parents of Students with Disabilities: Don’t Gut Federal Funding | NEA. Nea.org. https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/parents-students-disabilities-dont-gut-federal-funding

News from the States. (2025, July 27). New restrictions for immigrants could chill Head Start enrollment. NewsFromTheStates.com.

Peetz, C. (2025, February 27). How Schools Make Up for the Feds’ Unfulfilled Special Ed. Funding Commitment. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/how-schools-make-up-for-the-feds-unfulfilled-special-ed-funding-commitment/2025/02

Pengelly, M., & Yang, M. (2025, March 20). Dismantling of education department casts US student loans into uncertainty. The Guardian; The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/20/trump-education-department-student-loans

Reuters. (2025, March 21). Trump says Small Business Administration will handle federal student loans. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-small-business-administration-will-handle-federal-student-loan-2025-03-21/

Schultz, B. (2025, October 10). A New Wave of Federal Layoffs Will Hit the Education Department. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/a-new-wave-of-federal-layoffs-will-hit-the-education-department/2025/10.com

Special Education Today. (2025, October 11). U.S. federal special education workforce gutted during shutdown. https://www.specialeducationtoday.com

Spectrum News. (2025, March 21). Trump cuts Education Department: Student loans to SBA, nutrition programs to HHS. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/news/2022/education/2025/03/21/student-loans-sba-nutrition-programs-hhs-department-of-education-cuts

The 74 Million. (2025, July 16). Parents, Head Start providers challenge new rule barring undocumented families. The 74 Million.

U.S. Department of Education. (2005). No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 Annual Report to Congress. https://www.ed.gov/sites/ed/files/about/reports/annual/nclb/nclbrpt2005.pdf

U.S. Department of Education. (2024). Notice of proposed rulemaking on student loan program regulations. https://www.ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education. (2024). Individuals with disabilities education act (IDEA). U.S. Department of Education. https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/individuals-disabilities/idea

U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions [HELP]. (2026, April 28). Justice denied: How Trump’s Office for Civil Rights reached a 12-year low in protecting students from discrimination. Minority Staff Report. https://www.sanders.senate.gov/press-releases/news-sanders-releases-new-report-detailing-how-trumps-education-layoffs-abandoned-students-facing-violence-harassment-and-discrimination/