The White House just released its proposed budget for the 2019 fiscal year. And it’s bad — like really, really bad.
The budget proposes sweeping changes that discriminate against LGBTQ people, immigrants and — especially — women. In fact, this budget would prevent those who rely on programs like Medicaid and Title X,the nation’s family planning program, from going to Planned Parenthood at all.
Ideally for Trump, Congress would adopt this extreme budget and work to make it a reality. Regardless of what Congress does, though, the Trump-Pence budget is like a policy blueprint the administration will use to advance its agenda.
After all, we’ve seen it before. After outlining cruel priorities in last year’s budget, the administration then worked to chip away at access to birth control and women’s health.
But we must resist. Here’s a round-up of the cruelest measures the Trump-Pence budget proposes.
1. Roll back the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
This puts the health of nearly 7.5 million women, who gained health insurance through the ACA, at risk. Congress has tried three times to repeal the ACA — failing each time because of overwhelming opposition from people like you. Now the Trump-Pence administration aims to do what Congress could not, by going after the ACA in this budget.
2. Gut Medicaid
Trump’s budget cuts $1.4 trillion from Medicaid over the next 10 years. This would have a devastating impact on women and their families, with systemic barriers putting women of color at disproportionate risk. Medicaid is the insurance plan for 16.6 million — or one in five — women of reproductive age. It covers nearly half of all births, and is the largest payer of all reproductive health care.
3. Block people from going to Planned Parenthood health centers
The Trump-Pence budget could block hundreds of thousands of women from accessing basic, preventive health care at Planned Parenthood health centers. The budget blocks Planned Parenthood from participating in all HHS programs, including Medicaid and Title X — the only federal program devoted to birth control.
4. Undermine the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program (TPPP)
This jeopardizes the health and sex education of 1.2 million of young people. The budget would end TPPP and further abstinence-only-until-marriage funding. Abstinence-only-until-marriage sex education doesn’t work, is not science-based, and promotes shame in young people.
5. Discriminate against LGBTQ people
The Trump-Pence budget doubles down on policies that give health care workers the right to deny information and care to LGBTQ people and those accessing abortion or birth control — based solely on their personal objection. This is in addition to the new HHS office specifically designed to discriminate against queer and trans folks.
6. Ban immigrants in detention from accessing abortion
In complete violation of their constitutional rights, the Trump-Pence budget would ban access to a safe and legal abortion for immigrants in ICE detention facilities. This expands the unconstitutional policy advanced by creepy Scott Lloyd.
7. Build a wall
The Trump-Pence budget includes billions of dollars for Trump’s ridiculous border wall. This is the definition of hateful, anti-immigrant policy.
8. Attack birth control
Battering women’s health and rights, Trump’s budget would block people who rely on Title X from visiting Planned Parenthood health centers. Planned Parenthood health centers now serve 40 percent of Title X patients. The budget also slashes international funding for family planning by over 50 percent — promoting so-called “natural birth control” over more effective forms of birth control.
Tell Donald Trump and Mike Pence to keep their #HandsOff our health and rights!
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