It’s hard to believe that it’s been only four months and about a week since Donald Trump moved back into the White House and installed in his administration a couple of dozen millionaires and billionaires. Trump’s Memorial Day social media message at the outset of this week never mentioned the veterans whom the day is intended to honor, which is pretty on brand. A March internal memo revealed the administration planned to cut 80,000 jobs at Veterans Affairs. Concerned local VA officials across the country have sent warnings up the chain over the cuts, such as a cancer registry and a contract providing chemotherapy services. A hiring freeze has put on hold two trials to treat head and neck cancer in Pittsburgh, and another trial for opioid addiction treatment has stumbled because of staff layoffs that already took place.
That’s pretty much how most things have been going: splashy announcements of big achievements–mostly just staff cuts and closures–followed by quiet reversals and revisions, followed, nonetheless, by actual, often painful cuts.
The harm has been trickling down, not just to VA service providers, but also to states and localities, from big cities to remote, rural areas.
So we have a few questions for you.:
How is it going where you are–what’s happening in your world? What are the biggest threats you’re facing? And what can we do that might be of help to you?
Let us know what you’re working on to try to make government work for all of us, not just the billionaires who are currently running the executive branch. And let us know if there is something we can do to support you in your fight.
We know we’re only a tenth of the way into this term, and that Trump, JD Vance, Stephen Miller, Russell Vought, and Project 2025 have more in store for us. But we also know we’ve got you on the ground in every state of the U.S. working hard for democracy and for the rights and welfare of the most vulnerable. We’re here to help–let us know how. Send us a note at info@inthepublicinterest.org.
Donald Cohen
Executive Director
P.S. Don’t forget we have tons of resources that you could find helpful–our updated Resource Guide is a good place to start.
IMAGE: Federal Art Project, 1936 or 1937, poster celebrating Memorial Day, from the Library of Congress.