Welcome back to the Unify Brief, where we track the latest developments shaping our nation. Here’s what you need to know this week.
Trump pushes to end medical care for transgender youth
On Oct. 30, NPR acquired a draft text of a proposed rule that prohibits federal Medicaid reimbursement for care to transgender youth. This rule, along with prohibiting Medicaid for transgender youths, would also prohibit reimbursement through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for patients under 19.
An additional proposed rule would go as far as to block all Medicaid and Medicare funding for any hospital services that provide gender-affirming care. Gender-affirming care is already banned in 27 states. In the NPR article, Katie Keith, director of the Center for Health Policy and Law at Georgetown University, these rules would signify an increase in the Trump administration’s attack on transgender health care.
In his first days in office, President Trump signed an executive order titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” which declared the government would not fund or support the “so-called” transition of a child from one sex to another.
Local: Federal threats to gender-affirming care add fear for future of access for minors (Colorado Newsline)
National: Trump pushes an end to medical care for transgender youth nationally (NPR)
What other college campuses have to say: Gender Affirming Care (University of Colorado Medicine)
Trump met with high praise during his trip to Asia
Amidst the government shutdown, President Trump spent a week in Asia to meet with multiple governments to discuss trade and peace talks. He attended the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, addressed U.S. troops in Japan and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.
President Trump was met with pomp and circumstance throughout his trip, highly contrasting the “No Kings” protests seen across the country back in the U.S. Newly-elected Prime Minister of Japan, Sanai Takaichi, detailed her luxurious gifts to the President and the United States, including a golf set from deceased former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Unlike the rest of his trip, President Trump met with President Xi in a more private manner with a bilateral meeting, where they discussed the future of the Chinese tariffs, although no deal has been made yet.
Local: Trump praises Japan’s new prime minister, saying the US is an ‘ally at the strongest level’ (Colorado Hometown Weekly)
National: Trump’s Asia tour sees deals, knee-bending and a revealing final meeting (BBC)
What other college campuses have to say: Harvard Asia Center Panel Discusses Asia Relations Under President Trump (The Harvard Crimson)
Trump administration ordered to pay SNAP benefits
As the government shutdown finishes its first month, a federal judge in Rhode Island barred the Trump administration from withholding SNAP benefits. The ruling came a day before the administration planned to cut off the food stamp benefits for more than 42 million Americans.
Judge Jack McConnell gave an oral ruling stating that the food stamp benefits must be paid out of emergency funds as soon as possible. Judge McConnell claimed that irreversible harm will begin to the availability of funding for food.
In a social media post on Truth Social, Trump responded by saying he has instructed his lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how he can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.
Local: How the pause on SNAP benefits is impacting Colorado nonprofits (Denver 7)
National: Government Ordered to Pay Food Stamp Benefits During Shutdown (The New York Times)
What other college campuses have to say: SNAP uncertainty magnifies growing food insecurity on college campuses (MSU Denver Red)
Take Action:
At DU
- Access medical services on campus
On your own:
- Call your state representatives and demand action from the government
