Donald Trump’s newly proposed federal budget could financially impact the LGBTQ+ community to the tune of $2.67 billion, a major non-profit has warned.
A string of budget cuts totalling $163 billion were proposed by the 78-year-old president during a Friday (2 May) briefing, including cuts to education, housing, and medical research.
The so-called “skinny budget” focuses primarily on making cuts to non-defense departments and initiatives, including 23 per cent cuts to Social Security and Medicare programs – the lowest level since 2017.
More than $2 billion would be sliced from the tax-collecting Internal Revenue Service (IRS), while medical institutions including the NIH and the CDC could see more than 40 per cent of their respective budgets cut.
Conversely, Homeland Security is set to receive a 65 per cent spending boost as part of the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.
Trump budget cuts are a ‘direct attack’ on LGBTQ+ people
The budget’s massive cuts are likely to have far-reaching and concerning implications for the rights, autonomy, and health of LGBTQ+ people after vital support programs have been cut by over $2.67 billion according to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC).
A combination of cuts to the Department of Justice, Department of Education, the CDC, and more would significantly set back vital equality programs for LGBTQ+ people and other marginalised groups.
Initiatives affected include HIV and AIDS research programs, trans healthcare access, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and others.
Matthew Rose, HRC’s senior public policy advocate, said that the proposed budget is a “direct attack” on the LGBTQ+ community, warning it could have deep effects on the livelihood of LGBTQ+ Americans everywhere.
“Trump is taking away life-saving healthcare, support for LGBTQ-owned businesses, protections against hate crimes, and even housing help for people living with HIV,” Rose continued. “Stripping away more than $2 billion in support sends one clear message: we don’t matter.”
Key department threats that HRC flags include the elimination of $74 million worth of education funding for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program, which aims to end the HIV pandemic, as well as the “restructing” of critical outreach elements.
Vital funding for STI prevention will also be eliminated at the CDC, opting instead for a single £300 million grant program. LGBTQ+ health priorities will also be completely removed.
Housing programs, meanwhile, will be consolidated into the “Emergency Solutions Grant,” which HRC says will “eliminate the program that addresses one of the most requested needs of people living with HIV.”
Other cuts include a 35 per cent reduction in the Office for Civil Rights’ budget, as well as eliminating fundamental equality programs for small businesses and DOJ grant programs.
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