Trump’s Trade War is Destabilizing the Economy

VA Cuts Are Hurting Our Heroes

Veterans Under Fire

DOGE cuts are wreaking havoc on the Department of Veterans Affairs. Extreme budget cuts have resulted in massive layoffs affecting a quarter of federal employees, many of whom are veterans. Protests have erupted nationwide, with veterans fearing that staff shortages will compromise the quality and access to vital healthcare and benefits, particularly for those with toxic exposure or traumatic brain injuries. These cuts are a betrayal to those who served.    

Protect the VA! 

Veterans protest cuts to VA amid layoffs and service concerns 
ABC Indianapolis – March 14, 2025 by Meredith Hackler

Mass federal layoffs deliver a gutting one-two punch to America’s veterans
NBC News  – February 21, 2025 by Melissa Chan

Chaos at the VA: Inside the DOGE Cuts Disrupting the Veterans Agency 
New York Times – March 10, 2025 by Roni Caryn Rabin and Nicholas Nehamas

Five reasons federal cuts are hitting veterans especially hard
PBS – March 16, 2025

Republicans Are Weak On Common Sense Gun Laws

Stop Mass Shootings

The AR-15 rifle has become America’s most dangerous weapon, frequently used in mass shootings, with at least 10 of the 17 deadliest incidents involving its use. Despite its association with tragic events and ongoing debates about gun control, including a federal ban in the 1990s, Republicans continue to vote to make this weapon of mass destruction available to anyone off the street.   

Bring back common sense gun laws! 

How the AR-15 Rifle Became America’s Most Dangerous Weapon 
TIME May 10, 2023 by Solcyré Burga

How AR-15-style rifles write the tragic history of America’s mass shootings
NPR – May 10, 2023 by Jonathan Franklin

Trump admin permits sale of device that allows standard firearms to fire like machine guns
NBC NEWS May 16, 2025 by Ken Dilanian

Officials say Highland Park shooter bought guns legally 
PBS – Jul 5, 2022 by Associated Press reporters

Protesters organize as Dyer Republicans raffle off AR-15 across the street
NWI Times  – April 10, 2025 by Michael Howie

USDA Funding Cuts Harm Indiana Farmers and Area Food Banks

Hunger in Our Community

Funding cuts to the USDA are taking their toll on Indiana farmers and food banks across the state. Indiana will lose $27.5 million that would have been used by high schools and food banks to purchase produce from local farmers. More than 40 NWI farmers have been affected by the DOGE cuts. Some are likely to lose their businesses over these drastic cuts. The NWI Food bank lost $400,000 as part of the cuts. The food bank serves 12,000 needy NWI residents every month. 

NWI food banks, school districts stunned by federal funding cuts
Post Tribune – March 22, 2025

NWI farmers, and farm-to-school delivery programs, in ‘jeopardy’ following federal funding cuts
NWI Times – March 12, 2025 

USDA funding cuts hit local food pantries hard, raising concerns for families in need
CBS Terre Haute – March 20, 2025 

Federal Funding Cuts Are Decimating Medical Research

Cures in Crisis

The Trump administration’s budget cuts to medical research is having devastating repercussions. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world. It is responsible for lowering deaths from heart disease and strokes by 75%. Research on statin drugs, antidepressants, and insulin, have all been funded by NIH. Due to extreme DOGE cuts, research on childhood cancers, dementia and stroke have slowed and/or stopped at the agency. 

Health experts call Trump’s medical research cuts “reckless destruction”
CBS Sunday Morning – May 25, 2025 

Northwestern, UIC medical researchers reeling from Trump funding cuts
Chicago Sun-Times – May 27, 2025

Scientists fear Trump administration cuts to NIH could impact the health of Americans for generations
CBS 60 Minutes – April 27, 2025 

Trump administration health research cuts total $1.8 billion, analysis finds
Reuters – May 8, 2025 

FAA Staff Shortages Are Creating Chaos, Cancellations

Danger in our Skies

Over 400 FAA employees were laid off as part of the DOGE federal worker reduction plan. Prior to the firings, FAA officials had warned government officials that the agency was already understaffed and stretched thin. Ever since the DOGE cuts, there has been no shortage of chaos. From fatal accidents in the sky to air traffic control meltdowns, the increasing number of concerning incidents is  harming the air travel industry and disrupting lives.  

Restore safety to our skies. 

Hundreds of FAA employees are let go as Trump’s mass layoffs continue
NBC – Feb. 17, 2025 

Some of the 400 jobs that were cut as the FAA helped support air safety, a union says
Associated Press – February 19, 2025 

United cuts Newark schedule after hundreds of flight disruptions, blaming FAA staffing, technology problems
CNBC – May 2, 2025 

Republicans Are Assaulting Our Beloved National Parks

Stop the Destruction of our National Parks

Due to DOGE’s extreme budget cuts, our national parks have been forced to layoff thousands of workers. The remaining workers have been left to do their jobs without necessary supplies such as toilet paper for the restrooms.   

Republicans are also putting park wildlife at risk through their attempts to weaken the Endangered Species Act. There are 600 threatened or endangered species living in our national parks.   

Once these lands disappear they are gone forever. Protect our national parks! 

Indiana Dunes National Park faces staffing cuts, raises safety concerns for visitors
WISH TV Indianapolis – March 5, 2025

Two federal workers fired from National Park Service discuss impact of layoffs
NBC5 Chicago – February 20, 2025

National Park Service To Be Hit With 1,500 Additional Layoffs and Deep Budget Cuts, Reports Say
Forbes – May 8, 2025

House Republicans Propose Millions in Cuts to National Park Service Budget
National Parks Traveler –  May 2, 2025

Republicans Vote to Cut FEMA Funding

America in Crisis – FEMA Funding Cuts

As natural disasters cause more and more damage every year, republicans are leaving Americans without a safety net. Recent DOGE cuts have eliminated a third of the full time workers from the payroll. This means that the next time a major tornado or flood hits Northwest Indiana, there will be fewer trained people to assist with emergency management and a lot less resources. President Trump has long been a vocal critic of FEMA and has threatened to dismantle the entire agency. He recently canceled billions of dollars in disaster preparedness grants.

Rural communities were promised millions in disaster funds. Trump is ending it
NPR – May 1, 2025

FEMA Cuts Emergency Training Under Trump as Hurricane Season Looms
Reuters – May 11, 2025

Republican Wants FEMA Help After Voting to Cut Funding
Newsweek – May 20, 2025 

Extreme Medicaid Cuts Hurt Indiana Families

Hoosiers Under Attack

Republican cuts to Medicaid will have devastating effects on families across Indiana. Programs that our area residents rely upon every day are being deeply impacted. Over 180,000 Hoosiers will now lose their HIP and CHIP health insurance. Home healthcare support services will be cut or canceled. School based disability services will be cut. These include speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and mental health services.    

Sixty-three percent of seniors in nursing homes rely on Medicaid. Where will they live? 

How cutting Medicaid could upend long-term care for many older Americans
PBS Indianapolis, May 30, 2025 

As state, federal Medicaid cuts loom, Hoosiers anxious about impact
Post Tribune, May 26, 2025

As Congress debates spending cuts, half a million Hoosiers could join ranks of the uninsured
INDIANAPOLIS STAR February 28, 2025 

Republicans Are Dismantling Public Education

Protect Indiana Children from Devastating Budget Cuts

Republican lawmakers are systematically dismantling public education. Governor Braun’s new property tax cut will decimate public education funding in every community across the state.  Braun slashed $87 million from our Lake County schools which means teachers will lose their jobs and class sizes will increase.

Republican legislators have also expanded the school voucher program which takes money out of our local school district and hands it over to wealthy families and their expensive private schools. Indianapolis lawmakers also voted to make all school board election partisan. Keep the ugliness and extreme agendas away from our kids.

Protect our schools! 

Indiana schools racked by tax relief law
Post Tribune – April 21, 2025

Lake Central superintendent voices concern with school funding bills
Lakeshore Public Media – March 18, 2025

NWI Schools Set to Lose Millions Under Property Tax Relief
NWI Times – April 18, 2025

Find out how much money your school district could lose under the GOP proposal
Indianapolis Public Television – April 10, 2025

Republicans Want to Make NWI Highways into Tollways

Stop the “Tax” on Region Drivers

Governor Braun wants to turn Indiana highways into tollways. This will impact Northwest Indiana residents who travel on those highways for work or recreation. Do not let Indianapolis lawmakers put a tax on region residents. Our local roads and municipal budgets will take the hit when the people who want to avoid tolls flood our local roads.

Say no to Indiana republicans! 

Indiana’s ‘Crossroads of America’ may all become tollways under House Bill 1461
NWI Times – February 10, 2025

Toll road bill passes Indiana Senate; amendments to remove tolls failed
Post-Tribune – April 18, 2025

The Toll Road Conversation Continues with The Braun Administration
WIBC Indianapolis