JOBS POLICIES, ANALYSIS, AND RESOURCES
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Federal Court Rules Against Trump Efforts to Block Twitter Followers
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech…or the right of the people…to petition the Government for a redress of their grievances.” In the 1983 U.S. Supreme Court case Perry Education Association v. Perry Local Educators’ Association the court categorized government property for purposes of which rules would control speech and expression activities and listed three categories…
Trump Cancels, Then Resumes US-North Korea Summit
Last Thursday, President Trump announced the cancellation of the historic US-North Korea summit, originally slated for June 12th in Singapore. The cited reason was the “open hostility” exhibited by the North Korean government, including the suggestion that a diplomatic failure would lead to a “nuclear to nuclear showdown”.
The Independence of DOJ and FBI Under Attack From Presidential Tweets and Insults; Presidential Communications
After the Watergate scandal in the 1970’s President Jimmy Carter and his Attorney General Griffin Bell instituted policies that restricted communications between White House personnel and Department of Justice (DOJ) personnel. The intent was to permit DOJ personnel to carry out the duty of their positions without immediate political or partisan pressures.
Update on Scott Pruitt’s Investigation by Congress for Excess Spending, Secret Emails and Ethics Controversy
Update May 21, 2018
In late April, Scott Pruitt had a hearing on Capitol Hill regarding his various ethical controversies. Over the course of the two sessions, Pruitt did admit that he knew about the raises for two of his aides but little else, primarily placing blame on EPA aides and staff.
Zinke Faces the U.S. Senate
Earlier this month, Department of the Interior head, Ryan Zinke, a self-declared geologist, faced a senate hearing to address his proposed 2019 budget. However, this hearing may expand to include his numerous scandals.
US and China Concludes Second Round of Trade Talks Despite Internal Divisions and Confusion
On the weekend May 18-21, a team of Chinese delegates lead by the CCP’s Vice Premier and economist Liu He met with representatives from the Trump administration to discuss trade policies and advert a potential trade war.
Department of Justice fumbles with systemic sexual misconduct
Brief 35 Policy Summary: A recent report that came out from the Justice Department (DOJ) appears to indicate that multiple sexual harassment charges have been filed within the DOJ. The new policies and guidelines set up by the DOJ seek to create a harassment free...
American Patients First or American Pharmaceutical Executives First? Trump’s plan to lower drug prices and buffer Big Pharma
Trump and his HHS secretary, Alex Alzar, took to the Rose Garden to unveil his new plan, “American Patients First” (APF) to cut costs for prescription and over the counter (OTC) drugs in the US. His speech and initiatives come after criticism over the rising cost of healthcare and medications.
The Three Approaches To Saving Net Neutrality; Proposed Remedies To Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Agency Regulations
Update: On May 10, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission announced that they would file a notice in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the modifications made to the Restoring Internet Freedom Report and Order, known as the Net Neutrality regulations.
Implications of Trump’s Budget
Budget Proposal
Released on May 23, 2017
Policy Summary
Last Tuesday, President Trump’s White House released the Trump’s Budget proposal for the 2018 fiscal year. The document, titled “A New Foundation for American Greatness,” does not detail the sweeping tax cuts that are being pursued as part of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), but does assume that they have been put into place (read more about the AHCA).
The budget includes sweeping cuts to federal agencies and government programs. Budgets for the Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department will be cut by 31% and 29%, respectively, with additional 2% cuts every year. Funding for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will be cut by $616 billion, and welfare programs will be cut by $272 billion, with the largest cuts to food stamps (SNAP) at $190 billion and $15.6 billion for TANF. Finally, the budget also cuts $143 billion from Student Loans.
The budget also includes significant increases in military and defense spending. The Pentagon’s funding would increase spending by more than 10 percent, and the Department of Homeland Security would receive $1.6 billion for the border wall.
Analysis
The President’s budget is a symbolic document; Congressional approval is required for any budget. Even so, the contents of the budget are an important bellwether for future budget appropriations and agency funding. Moreover, much of the budget affects federal agencies, which are headed by Trump-appointed heads; agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency under Scott Pruitt and the Department of Education under Betsy Devos may reduce services in a way that will, in turn, lead to decreased appropriations by Congress. U.S. Resist News has previously covered some of the potential consequences to cuts for the EPA
Elimination of Social Services
The presidential budget features more than $1 trillion in cuts for services that go primarily to low- or middle-income Americans. Some of these cuts, such as cuts to Social Security Disability, are presented as part of incentivizing Americans to “return to the labor force.” However, cuts to Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, and TANF mean that low- and middle-income Americans would be less likely to be insured and would be spending more of their income on these basic necessities. In addition to likely endangering the lives of many citizens—including the more than 8 million children that CHIP insures—the cuts will likely stunt economic growth. The economy cannot grow if more Americans struggle to pay their bills.
Eliminating Avenues for Diplomacy
Trump’s proposed budget also includes cuts to the State Department and foreign aid. These cuts will severely diminish American diplomatic efforts. The State Department has already been weakened by the chaos of the new administration’s transition. Losing foreign aid—which represents a relatively small portion of the budget—would also remove an important diplomatic and negotiating tool for the country, affecting global stability.
Unlikely Assumptions about Revenues, Growth, and Cost-Cutting
Trump’s budget has been promoted as being revenue-neutral, but critics have begun pointing out that the “deficit-neutral” tax plan and “revenue-neutral” budget plan rely on overly optimistic assumptions about future growth as well as shoddy math to make sure the numbers turn out well. Trump’s budget assumes a 3% GDP growth; a full percentage point above the Congressional Budget Office’s forecast, and a number that US GDP growth has not attained since 1996. More than that, the budget assumes that the economy will provide enough growth to make the tax reform (which, again, is not detailed in the budget plan) deficit-neutral, and that estimated growth is again assumed to bring enough revenue to offset the increased spending of the budget.
Additionally, the Trump budget assumes that tax revenues will increase in spite of the sweeping tax cuts proposed in the American Health Care Act. However, a similar tax proposal that was actually passed in Kansas has led to ballooning deficits in Kansas. Some experts believe that the tax cuts actually encourage tax avoidance in the state.
It is highly unlikely that Congress will adopt a budget that looks much like the one put out by the White House, especially given the deep cuts to Medicaid. However, a Republican-dominated Senate is likely eager to pass at least some of the proposed tax cuts presented in the American Health Care Act (if not the more ambitious reform elements), and it is almost certain that major federal agencies will receive cuts in funding as well.
This brief was compiled by Ivy Perez. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact ivy@usresistnews.org.
The Budget: Department of Education Facing 13.5 Percent Cut
Budget Proposal
Released on May 23, 2017
Policy Summary
Donald Trump’s new budget plan proposes cutting 13.5 percent or $9.2 billion from education, paving the way for $1.4 billion to go towards the administration’s top education priority, a school choice voucher program. These cuts would eliminate government subsidized student loans and put an end to student debt forgiveness programs as well as nearly halving the size of the federal work study program. A $2.3 billion program for teacher training and class-size reduction, a $190 million literacy program, and a $1.2 billion after-school program will also see their demise as a result of this budget, in addition to several other programs. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Slashing programs that largely benefit low-income students, this budget makes room for a voucher program, allowing students to opt for private or religious institutions. This is concerning as researchers have found that many states allow religious schools receiving vouchers to deny admission to LGBT students or children with LGBT parents. When asked if the government would step in to prevent schools participating in discriminatory practices from receiving federal vouchers, Education Sect. Betsy DeVos did not give a clear answer. Drawing criticism from both sides of the isle, this budget also dramatically cuts college affordability and access programs. One Representative heralded it as a budget designed by people who have never had to “worry about how they were going to pay for their children to go to college.” Calling the entirety of the budget an “assault on the American dream,” John King Jr., Sect of Education during the Obama Administration, noted that the discussion should be about investing more as opposed to less. LEARN MORE.
Engagement Resources
- Click here to learn how to contact your state legislators! Budgets cannot pass without legislative support!
- Donate to and support The Council for Opportunity in Education, a nonprofit geared toward furthering the expansion of college opportunities for disabled, first-generation and low-income students.
- National Education Association– Support the NEA and join them in their e-mail campaign against Betsy DeVos’ voucher program!
This brief was compiled by Cindy Stansbury. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact, cindy@usresistnews.org.
U.S. Census Bureau Announces That It Will Not Include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity As A Category For Data Collection
Federal Agency Policy
Announced on May 8, 2017
Policy Summary
In April 2016, Members of Congress asked the United States Census Bureau to include sexual orientation and gender identity as subjects that Americans can be asked to be categorized as in the upcoming 2020 Census. Nearly a year later and after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the Census Bureau changed course and clarified that it “inadvertently listed sexual orientation and gender identity as a proposed topic” and that these two topics are no longer being proposed to Congress for the 2020 census. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Laura Durso, vice – president of the LGBT Research and Communications Project at the Center for American Progress said that the change would prevent the collection of information that is necessary to understand the needs of the LGBT community. Senators Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Tom Carper (D-DE) have gone further by sending a letter to the Census Bureau asking for an explanation as to why the two categories were excluded from future census questions. The letter indicates that the information could be useful for apportionment and re-districting efforts and in helping to distribute $400 billion in federal funds annually. The decision to not include an option to classify oneself according to sexual orientation or gender identity ignores the LGBT community as a growing community in the U.S. This change also has the potential to change and diminish the electoral power of the LGBT community as a voting bloc as well as making the community unavailable for federal funds simply because the administration refuses to recognize them. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- SAGE – A nonprofit group focused on LGBT issues for elderly people.
- Center for American Progress – A nonprofit group advocating progressive policy ideas on numerous issues.
- Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation – A nonprofit group focused on accelerating acceptance for the LBGT community.
This brief was compiled by Rod Maggay. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact rod@usresistnews.org.
Trump’s First Trip Abroad
On May 19th, President Trump departed for his inaugural foreign visit where he made stops across the Middle East and Europe over the course of nine days. His visit began in Saudi Arabia and included meeting with King Salman and the royal family of the nation, as well as attending a meeting with many leaders in the Gulf States coalition. From here, President Trump traveled to Israel and the West Bank and met with both the leaders of the Palestinian Authority as well as Israel itself. His trip then continued in Rome where he met with the Pope and the President of Italy in the Vatican. He concluded his traveling in Brussels, then Sicily, where the President met with the NATO coalition and the G7 members.
Analysis
While praised by some, this trip was indicative of a faltering and confused administration. Hypocrisy, a common staple of this presidency, found its way into most moments, such as when the President bowed in front of the Saudi king. While in Saudi Arabia, President Trump signed a massive arms deal with the Saudis which threatens democracy and peace in the region, similar to how Ivanka spoke about women leaders at an event where women reporters were not allowed. His speech on Islam was heavy-handed and ultimately misguided, and most of this trip felt more like a parade.
President Trump’s actions preceded him in Israel as the nation was still fuming over his alleged leaks of Israeli intelligence in the White House to the Russian ambassador. While the President denies these charges, it seemed to have an effect on his presence in the region. His administration found ways to embarrass itself, from typos to classic Trumpian rhetoric, and very little substantive policy or messaging came from his time spent in Israel.
However, the most catastrophic part of the trip came at its conclusion. While the media focused on many of the publicity nightmares for the President (his handshake with French President Macron or when he pushed himself past the Prime Minister of Montenegro), there were a lot of relationships and diplomatic norms under siege. German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s statement about the strength of American commitment is incredibly worrisome and should not be overlooked, especially as talks of a European nuclear program begin to unfold. Furthermore, the leaders of the G7 nations ridiculed President Trump for his stance on Russia as well as global warming, and this questioned the leadership and integrity of the United States.
Many are calling this a successful trip, but it’s difficult to see by which metric this administration can claim a win. Not only did gaffes dominate the news cycle and stymie any developments in professionalism, but ignorance gave way to the erosion of American credibility and involvement in the international community.
Trump’s 2018 US Budget Proposal: Effects on Environment
White House Budget Proposal
Released March 16, 2017
Update: May 23, 2017
The White House released a new version of Trump’s budget which summarized spending priorities while maintaining the extreme EPA and DOE funding cuts detailed in this brief. LEARN MORE
Policy Summary
President Trump released his first preliminary budget, approximating budget changes for the 2018 fiscal year and showcasing the administration’s priorities. The proposed budget has severe implications for environmental and public health, calling for a 31 percent cut in the EPA budget, reducing funding for the Department of Energy, and targeting environmental protection funding in at least nine other federal departments. When asked about cuts to science and climate change research, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said: “the President was fairly straightforward — we’re not spending money on that anymore.” The president’s budget increases military spending by $54 billion and balances the federal deficit by decreasing spending for various programs across the board. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Budget cuts to the EPA would hamper the agency’s ability to protect clean air and water, to conduct research, and to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change and pollution on the country. The proposed budget plan discontinues all EPA funding for climate change-related efforts and the Obama administration’s signature Clean Power Plan (analyzed in depth here) which mitigates climate impacts and health risks from air pollutants by reducing carbon pollution from power plants. The plan also eliminates over 50 EPA programs, cuts research and development funding, and decreases funding for Superfund, the EPA program responsible for cleaning up sites contaminated with hazardous wastes. Department of Energy cuts eliminate research projects and loan programs that fund innovative renewables technology and restrict funding to laboratories which conduct research on renewables and energy efficient vehicles. Stanford environmental engineering professor Mark Jacobson worries that cuts to research funding will reduce American innovation and competitiveness, decreasing GDP. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- World Resources Institute – a global NGO committed to protecting the Earth, improving people’s lives, and creating prosperity through sustainable natural resource management.
- Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities – a research, policy, and advocacy organization of public research universities, land-grant institutions, and higher education organizations.
- Task Force on American Innovation – an alliance of business, universities and scientific societies supporting federally funded basic research in the physical sciences and engineering.
This brief was compiled by Conor Downey. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact conor@usresistnews.org.
4th Circuit Upholds A Lower Court’s Decision to Halt Travel Ban
Judicial Ruling
Issued on May 25th
Policy Summary
On May 25th the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 10-3 to uphold a lower Court’s ruling blocking Trump’s travel ban. Chief Judge Roger L. Gregory ruled that Trump’s call during the campaign to suspend Muslim immigration could be used to establish a precedent that nefarious intentions were in mind in the drafting of this order. In the ruling he stated: “Then-candidate Trump’s campaign statements reveal that on numerous occasions, he expressed anti-Muslim sentiment, as well as his intent, if elected, to ban Muslims from the United States.” This ruling is just the first of two that are expected, as the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals is also deliberating on Trump’s travel ban.
Analysis
After the ruling Attorney General Jeff Sessions stated that the administration would appeal the case to the Supreme Court. This case meets the two criteria for a Supreme Court case, the first being that the federal government is appealing the case, and the second being that t it involves a nationwide injunction. Therefore, it is very likely that the Supreme Court will decide to hear the case. If the Supreme Court does decide to hear the case it is unclear which way it would rule as the conservatives have a 5-4 majority on the court. However, in a lot of recent cases, Republican-appointed Justice Anthony Kennedy has sided with the liberal justices.
Engagement Resources
- Local Options for Protecting Immigrants – This document hosted by the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights notes what steps local governments can take to protect immigrants against federal government actions.
- Resistance Manual – Crisis Resources: If you know someone who is facing immigration troubles, please share this compendium of legal resources and relevant nonprofit organizations with them.
- Immigration Volunteer Search – Search for immigration volunteer opportunities near you, and do your part to help those under siege from Trump’s policies.
This brief was compiled by William Lucier. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact william@usresistnews.org.
The Budget: Medicaid and Food Stamps
Budget Proposal
Released May 23, 2017
Policy Summary
Trump’s budget proposal that was released on Tuesday, May 23 follows through with the AHCA bill’s $800 billion in cut to Medicaid over the next decade. As anticipated from the budget draft, this reduction would lead to 23 million fewer Americans insured. Along with work requirements for Medicaid eligibility, the administration is also encouraging states to impose stricter work requirements for other anti-poverty programs such as food stamps, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and housing assistance. In Georgia, state work requirements for food stamps reduced the number of recipients by more than half. Federal funding for SNAP would decrease by about $190 million over the next ten years according to the new budget. Republicans tend to support this reduction as it saves federal money and encourages people to get to work while Democrats tend to reject it, saying the federal government is leaving the most vulnerable citizens with no safety net for their basic needs. LEARN MORE
Analysis
This proposal is still in its preliminary stages and has a long way to go before anything actually changes. Although lawmakers are likely to alter or dismiss much of it, the proposal provides insight into the priorities of the administration. Those priorities seem to include slashing programs that help the poor such as Medicaid and Food Stamps while giving tax cuts to wealthy Americans. Budget director Mick Mulvaney claims that many of the changes to anti-poverty programs are to encourage recipients to get jobs. However, SNAP already requires able-bodied, childless adults to find jobs within three months and to work at least 20 hours a week. About 44% of the 42 million people who receive SNAP benefits already have at least one family member working. The problem may not be that recipients are not working, but rather that they are not earning enough at their jobs. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Sign a petition to Congress to oppose cuts to SNAP
- Engage with your Congress Member – A partner with Families USA, this site allows you to learn more about Trumpcare and provides a guide on how to contact your Congress member.
This brief was compiled by Ann Furbush. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact Ann@usresistnews.org.
Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy
Executive Order
Issued April 28, 2017
Policy Summary
This Executive Order issued by President Trump instructs his cabinet officials to open millions of acres of federally administered waters for energy development. The move will begin to reverse President Obama’s attempts to keep the U.S. waters from lease sales to fossil fuel companies and overturns overturned Obama-era regulations barring companies from drilling in the Arctic. “Past administrations have been overly restrictive of offshore energy exploration and have taken off the table hundreds of millions of offshore acres for development. As a result, 94 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf is off-limits to responsible energy development,” the administration said in a statement. LEARN MORE
Analysis
While Trump’s EO will open major swaths of land for oil and gas drilling, lengthy legal processes and low global energy prices make investment unlikely in the short term. The inevitable threat of drilling, however, worries environmental groups; Earth Justice President Trip Van Noppen argues that “Trump’s short-sighted order reverses climate progress and imperils coastal communities, irreplaceable wildlife and our shared future.” Jamie Williams, president of the Wilderness Society, explains that “the chance of a tragic spill in those remote, icy waters is simply too high, and the impacts to marine life and the pristine coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge could be devastating.” LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Natural Resources Defense Council – a nonprofit international environmental advocacy group committed to fighting Trump’s “environmental assault” and using “every tool in the kit to stop this dangerous tar sands oil pipeline project.”
- Greenpeace – an international environmental NGO that uses direct action, lobbying, research, and ecotage to raise public awareness and to influence the public and private sectors.
- Sierra Club – the nation’s largest environmental preservation organization; recent focuses include green energy, mitigating global warming, and opposing coal.
This brief was compiled by Vaibhav Kumar. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact vaibhav@usresistnews.org.
Memorandum For Federal Prosecutors Regarding Department Charging and Sentencing Policy
State Department Memorandum
Released May 12, 2017
Policy Summary
Attorney General Jeff Sessions put out a recent memorandum requiring federal prosecutors to “charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offense”. This memo asks prosecutors to seek and prosecute suspects for the crimes with the harshest penalties; that includes prosecuting nonviolent offenders for crimes that have minimum sentences. Any prosecutor wishing to seek lesser charges must obtain approval from the Attorney General. The memo can be found HERE.
Analysis
Critics of the new policy warn that this will lead to an increase in HIV transmission, as minimum sentencing seriously affects nonviolent drug offenders. A recent study found that these strict policies lead to negative health outcomes. Injection drug users are driven underground for fear of persecution, where they are more likely to share needles and avoid seeking treatment or testing. Republican Senator Rand Paul wrote that this policy is a step backward for the fight against the opioid epidemic, as it will severely punish those who would benefit most from treatment. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Join the ACLU – sign the ACLU’s petition protesting Jeff Session’s new policy that will disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities.
- Get involved with The Sentencing Project – there are several ways to help fight for criminal justice
This brief was compiled by Elizabeth Kiefer. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact elizabeth@usresistnews.org.
Student Loan Interest Rises
Planned Interest Rate Increase
Scheduled for July 1, 2017
Policy Summary
New Student loan borrowers will see a jump in their interest rates beginning in July. Interest rates on new government loans are set to rise by 0.69 percentage point (from 3.76 percent to 4.45 percent) nearly a 20 percent increase for undergraduate borrowers. Some graduate loan rates will also rise from 5.31 percent to 6 percent and loans for parents and guardians are also expected to see a jump from 6.31 percent to 7 percent. This increase has its roots in a 2013 provision to change how the federal government sets interest rates on student loans, moving away from a system in which Congress defined rates years in advance, to one in which rates would be tied to the the government’s cost of borrowing over 10 years. The goal was to create an environment in which students would benefit from low interest rates when the economy wasn’t growing very much. LEARN MORE
Analysis
About 42 million Americans collectively owe roughlyn$1.3 trillion on their student loans, as it is. This increase terrifying to many because following years of tuition hikes, this is just another step towards making college education a lifelong financial burden.”It makes it even scarier,” said ASU graduate student Guadalupe Vela. “I’m not sure I’m going to be able to afford the interest on my unsubsidized loan.” Still, some financial experts say that although the increase isn’t ideal, federal loans are still better than the private alternative. “Since their interest rates are fixed, they won’t go up in the future, and they also come with crucial protections like income-driven repayment and forgiveness for public-sector workers,” said Brianna McGurran of the personal finance website NerdWallet. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Student Debt Crisis – A nonprofit organization, Student Debt Crisis is dedicated to reforming student debt and higher education loan policies.
- Contact your state legislators – Call your representatives and let them know that college affordability is important to you!
- Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project – A project of the National Consumer Law Center, the SLBAP is a resource for borrowers, their families, and advocates representing student loan borrowers.
This brief was compiled by Cindy Stansbury. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact, cindy@usresistnews.org.