Target: Jim O’Neill, Deputy Secretary of Department of Health and Human Services
Goal: Do not withhold social services funding from families and children.
The Trump administration’s campaigns of retribution against average Americans continue. President Trump recently exercised his veto power for the first time to deny citizens of Colorado access to water and to deny an indigenous tribe in Florida control over lands they have inhabited for centuries. Likely not coincidentally, both the tribe and Colorado politicians and voters ran afoul of the president. The tribe had fought to get the infamous Alligator Alcatraz detention facility removed from their lands. And President Trump did not win the state of Colorado during his last election. More notably still, a prominent supporter of the water bill – Colorado Representative Lauren Boebert – had recently been one of the only Republicans to publicly support the release of the Epstein files. Representative Boebert even hinted in a statement that the veto of water for her constituents may have been political retaliation.
Perhaps the most consequential retaliatory move from this administration stands to harm millions of children from low-income families. Recently, a video from a well-known anti-immigrant influencer alleged – without clear evidence – that several childcare centers in Minnesota had committed fraud. Within a short amount of time, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that all federal funds allocated for childcare in Minnesota would be frozen until facilities “proved” they had not committed fraud. While this supposed investigation is under way, thousands of struggling families will live with the uncertainty of not knowing how they will provide care for their young children. Longer-term, many centers that rely on federal assistance may be forced to close their doors, creating an indefinite gap in care.
To add insult to this grievous injury, the department has expanded its freeze in funding to four other states — all states led by Democrat politicians. Not only will these states be deprived of childcare funding, but they will also lose billions of dollars in support for a program developed for needy families, as well as over a quarter of a billion dollars in grant funds for other social services. A lion’s share of these grants was intended for services that benefit children.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who ran for Vice President on the opposing ticket during the last election, unequivocally stated in response, “He’s [the president] politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans.” Sign the petition below to demand the agency that is supposed to ensure the health and welfare of all Americans stop enabling political games that upend lives.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Deputy Secretary O’ Neill,
More than 19,000 children and their families: these human beings are the collateral damage of your directive to withhold childcare funds from Minnesota. Now, with the announced and expanded freeze in funding for four other states, millions of needy kids and their families will be impacted. Take away the political noise and the unfounded accusations, and they are what remain: the most vulnerable innocents who will suffer and struggle even more because of your actions. This issue is not a game or a political talking point for these people. It is their lives, their livelihoods, and their well-being.
You took an oath, not to one individual but to an entire country. Remember that oath: “to protect the health of all Americans and provide essential human services.” Rescind this heartless directive and restore funding at once.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo Credit: Pavel Danilyuk
