Feb. 10 Federal Update: Webinar to Discuss Strategies for Workforce Sustainability and Insurance Accessibility

Social Current is hosting a free webinar Wednesday, Feb. 19 from 1-2 pm ET. It is the second in our Advocacy in Action series, which digs into our federal policy agenda.

This webinar will discuss critical workforce and insurance challenges affecting the human services sector. It will offer tailored strategies to advocate for workforce and insurance solutions, including through data-driven approaches and storytelling.

The session is designed to empower organizations with the knowledge and resources needed to create actionable advocacy plans and outline opportunities to join Social Current’s advocacy efforts. Register here.

Senate Committee on Aging Holds a Hearing on Inflation Challenges Facing Older Adults

U.S. Senate Committee on Aging recently held a hearing to discuss the challenges inflation presents to older adults. Witnesses and senators highlighted reduced purchasing power and increased financial instability due to paying rising grocery, housing, medical, and transportation costs while often relying fixed incomes.

Witnesses recommended reducing government spending, increasing deregulation, and strengthening incentives to work to ease inflationary pressures and lower interest rates. They also encouraged addressing corporate price gouging, improving Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustments, and reducing the price of prescription drugs by expanding Medicare’s power to negotiate.

House Education and Workforce Committee Holds a Hearing on the State of American Education

The House Education and Workforce Committee recently held a hearing to consider the challenges students continue to face following the COVID-19 pandemic. Chairman Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) and Ranking Member Robert C. Scott (D-Va.) referenced the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress Report to underscore ongoing declines in math and reading scores.

Representatives and witnesses discussed widening achievement gaps. Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the Legal Defense Fund, highlighted the Department of Education’s role in safeguarding students’ right to equal educational opportunities. She underscored the importance of desegregation to close achievement gaps and more equitably distributing resources. Nicole Neily, president of Parents Defending Education, further stressed the importance of transparency of curriculum and partnerships with families.

Representatives and witnesses also discussed challenges in higher education, including excessive costs, low completion rates, uneven financial value for students, and high rates of student loan nonpayment. Preston Cooper, senior fellow for the American Enterprise Institute, recommended caps on federal loans and increased accountability among taxpayer-funded colleges for their outcomes.

Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president and CEO of SHRM, stressed the importance of a strong connection between the business and education communities to prepare workers for the future of work. He recommended partnerships and open communication among employers, educational institutions, and government agencies.

Executive Orders Signed by President Trump

• Withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization: On Jan. 20, President Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the U.S. from the World Health Organization. The order cited the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states. It also included the sizable payment the U.S. is expected to contribute compared to China.
• Protecting Civil Rights and Merit Based Opportunity: On Jan. 22, President Trump signed an order to terminate diversity, equity, and inclusion preferencing in the federal workforce, contracting, and spending.
• Cost of Living Crisis: On Jan. 22, President Trump signed an order to deliver emergency price relief for U.S. families, including by drastically lowering the cost of housing and expanding the housing supply. The president additionally ordered the elimination of unnecessary administrative expenses and rent-seeking practices that raise health care costs. The order further included expanding work opportunities and eliminating climate policies that increase the costs of food and fuel.
• Enforcing the Hyde Amendment: On Jan. 24, President Trump signed an executive order reinforcing the Hyde Amendment, which prevents federal funding from being directed toward elective abortions. It also revoked two executive orders signed by President Biden, Executive Order 14076 and 14079, which were written to protect and promote access to reproductive health care, including abortion.
• Gender Affirming Care: On Jan. 28, President Trump signed an executive order condemning gender affirming care. The order directs the secretary of the Health and Human Services Department to publish a review of existing literature. It also requires the head of each executive department or agency to ensure that institutions receiving federal research or education grants immediately take appropriate steps to end gender-affirming care. Additionally, TRICARE, Federal Employee Health Benefits, and Postal Service Health Benefits programs will exclude gender-affirming care for minors.
• Ending Indoctrination in Schools: On Jan. 29, President Trump directed the secretaries of Education, Defense, and Health and Human Services, in consultation with the attorney general, to present a strategy to eliminate federal funding supporting discriminatory or indoctrinatory practices in K-12 schools, particularly around gender and equity ideologies. The strategy will include steps to protect parental rights, rescind federal funds used to support such practices, and outline enforcement mechanisms for violations. The attorney general will also coordinate with state and local authorities to ensure legal actions are taken against any unlawful activities by school officials.
• School Choice: On Jan. 29, President Trump directed the secretary of Education to issue guidance allowing states to use federal formula funds to support K-12 educational choice initiatives. The order also directs the secretaries of Labor and Education to review discretionary grant programs, including the Child Care and Development Block Grant and Bureau of Indian Education.
• Reviewing Federal Funding to Nongovernmental Organizations: President Trump directed the heads of executive departments and agencies to review all funding that agencies provide to nongovernmental organizations. Future funding decisions are to align with the United States and the goals of the Trump Administration.

Executive Orders Repealed by President Trump

• Strengthening Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act: The executive order was signed by President Biden to increase the affordability and accessibility of high-quality health care.
• Establishment of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships: The executive order was signed by President Biden to empower faith-based and secular organizations to assist in the delivery of vital services in neighborhoods.
• Lowering Prescription Drug Costs for Americans: The executive order was signed by President Biden to identify pathways to lower drug costs and promote access to innovative drug therapies for beneficiaries enrolled in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. It directed the secretary of Health and Human Services to consider health care payment and delivery models that may lead to lower cost-sharing for commonly used drugs and support value-based payment that promotes high-quality care.

Sector Updates from the Judiciary

Federal Judge Stops Federal Funding Freeze
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia recently issued a temporary restraining order to halt a memorandum issued by the Office of Management and Budget. The court’s ruling stopped the memo, which announced a temporary pause on federal funding, from going into effect.

The memorandum ordered all federal agencies to pause issuing of new awards, disbursing federal funds under all open awards, and other relevant agency actions that may violate executive orders recently signed by President Trump. The delay in funding holds the capacity to severely harm communities by preventing states and organizations from providing critical services, including funding programs that increase access to housing, support child abuse prevention, and promote community health.

Judge AliKhan stressed Congress’ right to appropriate federal funds and the unconstitutionality of interfering with their distribution. The U.S. District Court’s order follows a temporary restraining order issued by a federal district judge for the U.S. District Court of Rhode Island. Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. also granted a temporary restraining order to stop President Trump administration’s funding freeze following a suit brought by a coalition of 22 states and D.C.

Maryland Supreme Court Upholds State Law Removing the Statute of Limitations for Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
The Maryland Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of the state’s Child Victims Act of 2023, which retroactively eliminated the statute of limitations for survivors of child sexual abuse. Individuals are now permitted to bring civil lawsuits against private entities, including state government agencies, regardless of the date of the incident.

Maryland’s Child Victims Act of 2023 additionally capped liability for public entities at $890,000 per occurrence. It raised the liability limit in claims against private institutions for non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, to $1.5 million. It eliminated caps for economic damages for costs of services, such as therapy and medical treatment.

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