January 24, 2025
Trump derails medical research, support for Los Angeles recovery, resources for targeted immigrant families, and more!
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TRUMP MOVE DERAILS MEDICAL RESEARCH
The Trump Administration’s purge of the federal government is already putting lifesaving work outside Washington at risk. The Trump Administration has abruptly shut down grant review panels and study sections at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – effectively blocking any new medical research relying on NIH funding from moving forward. This is a blow to American science – virtually every advance in American medicine and biological science is backed by the NIH. There is plenty of uncertainty here: it is unclear what exactly the administration’s plan or goal is with this move, and it may be part of an ordered communications pause by the Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies that is scheduled to end on February 1st. But Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has supported layoffs at the NIH and shifting its focus away from infectious diseases, and researchers warn that even short disruptions will lead to interruptions in funding and have long ripple effects on research. They have also imposed a hiring freeze and an indefinite travel ban, which is likely to put a hold on any clinical trials. Let’s contact our members of Congress to express our concern about what Trump has done to our world-class health research programs and urge them to do what they can to get the administration to reverse course immediately. And let’s remind them that if our top scientists face these arbitrary and disruptive limits on their work here, they will take their talent to competitor countries. To make our case, we can use the National Institutes of Health RePORTER’s Active Funding map to see how many millions of dollars our individual congressional district and state receive from the NIH and this tool from United for Medical Research to identify how many jobs and how much economic activity our state adds as a result.
TRUMP KILLS INITIATIVE TO LOWER PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES
For all his shouting about how high prices are, among the first things Donald Trump did was rip up a Biden executive order aimed at lowering them. Biden had directed the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate new payment and delivery models to lower the price of prescription drugs for people on Medicare and Medicaid, an effort that has now been receded on Trump’s order. While Biden’s $35 monthly cap on insulin, $2,000 annual out-of-pocket cap on prescription drugs and Medicare negotiating drug pricing provision are still in place and the immediate effects of this move on us won’t be noticeable, as KFF’s Larry Levitt commented the decision is “perplexing” and “sends a signal Trump may not be serious about addressing drug costs”– and it certainly suggests we will not be pursuing the $2 monthly out-of-pocket cap for certain generic drugs that Health and Human Services was working towards. Let’s reach out to our members of Congress to let them know we are unhappy with this choice and want them to back the $2 monthly cap and oppose any effort to further roll back the Biden prescription drug policies. This is also a good opportunity to let them know we have seen the reports that Republicans are considering broader Medicare and Medicaid cuts to pay for their tax hike for billionaires and that plan should be rejected outright.
WE WILL NOT FORGET LOS ANGELES
It’s no longer the top story, but Los Angeles is still burning, with new blazes erupting in the northern part of the county – and our Los Angeleno siblings still need our help. Wildfires have displaced tens of thousands of low-income families from Los Angeles County. Without a home or place to work, these families are facing a long road to restarting their lives. GiveDirectly provides direct cash relief to help the some of the worst-off folks pay the bills and buy essentials in this hard time. Let’s consider a donation here. And with Republicans continuing to make noise about conditioning disaster aid, we can also take a moment to remind our members of Congress that’s unacceptable. (Via our friends and allies at Americans of Conscience Checklist.)
FREE LEGAL RESOURCES FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES
As the Trump administration threatens raids things against immigrants and their families, let’s help spread the word in our communities about the Immigrant Defense Hotline (617-988-0606; hotline@lawyersforcivilrights.org) and other pro bono legal resources from the organization Lawyers for Civil Rights.
DEMS ABROAD BOARD MEMBERS VOTE
In the first quarter of each odd-numbered year, all country committees in Democrats Abroad must hold an election for new board members to serve two-year terms. These elections are administered by a nomination and election committee appointed by the country chair, and that committee needs members! If we’re Dems Abroad, let’s consider volunteering for this short-term but necessary work. We can contact our country chairs to volunteer or for more info.
STATE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS
CO - GET ENGAGED ON THE STATE LEVEL
Want to know more about how to participate in state politics? Here's a good guide, especially if we'd like to consider testifying at the state legislature in support or against a proposed law. All the information needed is here.
KEEPING AN EYE ON…
Pete Hegseth confirmation vote today… Minnesota special election delayed, oral arguments on GOP power grab before state high court next week… the Wisconsin state supreme court election April 1st… North Carolina supreme court steal will go to trial…Oregon health care workers on strike… Costco workers contract expires January 31st…
Thank you so much for amplifying our call to action for LA's most vulnerable, fire-affected communities. We're stronger together!
-- Jen Hofmann
Founder and Director
Americans of Conscience Checklist
I am so angry about the ban on communications within the health field! I have contacted my Senators and asked others to do so as well through my FB. I don't know what else to do, but this is so dangerous. This is what dictators do. Control the facts so the people remain in the dark hearing only what the dictators want us to hear.