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Federal cuts weigh heaviest on the most vulnerable
The Citizen
To the Editor:
Over the past few months we have heard repeatedly that Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency are attacking waste, fraud and abuse in the federal government. Who can argue with making our government more efficient? Or is something else going on?
As a volunteer for both Age Well and RSVP AmeriCorps, I’m concerned what this means for the continuation of services to people in our community.
Let’s focus on the impact on many older and/or disabled people who depend on services funded either directly or indirectly through the federal government. DOGE slashed an estimated 10,000 staff from the Department of Health and Human Services and dissolved the Administration for Community Living, which oversees funding for programs supporting older adults to remain healthy and independent. As a result, future funding is in jeopardy.
Meals on Wheels is one of many essential programs that is impacted. Last year alone Meals on Wheels delivered thousands of nutritious and heart-healthy meals to older and/or disabled members in our community alone. Meals on Wheels also provides a safety check as well as resources for other critical services. If you have a parent or grandparent who lives alone and who struggles with food preparation or insufficient nutrition, Meals on Wheels is there to help.
In addition to nutrition, the social connections it provides significantly reduce loneliness and isolation often experienced by the individuals served. As a Meals on Wheels driver, I got to know the people on my route and often took time to listen and chat.
There were also occasions when someone failed to answer the door, and the safety check protocols kicked in. On one such occasion, my intervention possibly saved a life. Other meal delivery people have had similar encounters. Due to our aging population, the need for services such as these continues to grow.
In Vermont, Meals on Wheels is funded through a combination of sources. However, there is a $7 million shortfall in government funding. Despite the increasing need, the state has level funded Meals on Wheels in the 2026 budget. Trump’s proposed budget cuts hundreds of millions of dollars from the Department of Health and Human Services, calling into question many programs, including Early Head Start, Head Start and Medicaid, as well as Meals on Wheels.
The cuts to government spending weigh heaviest on the most vulnerable Americans while the wealthiest get the benefit of lower taxes. To quote Sen. Bernie Sanders, “Trump’s budget is breathtaking in its degree of cruelty.”
What’s next on the chopping block? Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare? What has happened to the ideal of government for the people as opposed to one whose main purpose is to serve the interests of the rich and powerful?
Susan Rusten
Hinesburg
Read the article here.
