In The Politics of Autism, I discuss the issue's role in campaign politics. In the 2016 campaign, a number of posts discussed Trump's bad record on disability issues more generally. As his words and actions have shown, he despises Americans with disabilities.
The Trump administration started implementing Project 2025 immediately upon taking office, and as predicted, it is already harming disabled people. Far-reaching administrative actions such as the executive order on “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” and the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s memo on freezing federal spending have caused significant confusion for disabled people and organizations that serve them across the country. While the administration battles the legality of the executive orders in the courts, nonprofit organizations and state programs have had to cut back on services, lay off staff, and even shut down.
At the same time, the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is attacking spending it deems wasteful, resulting in mass layoffs of federal workers that have especially affected disabled workers, who often have longer probationary periods due to Schedule A hiring processes. The administration and Congress are also on the verge of making significant cuts to Medicaid and Social Security benefits, two of the most successful anti-poverty programs that keep disabled people in their communities. This onslaught of destructive policies is seemingly intended to keep advocates stressed and disorganized.
That is why it is essential for disability rights advocates and other allied organizations to create a plan of action that builds cross-movement solidarity, interdependence, and collective liberation—all core principles of disability justice. Over the next few years, the disability advocacy community must work creatively to develop a proactive plan of action that centers community care and support. The Center for American Progress’ Disability Justice Initiative, along with its numerous community partners, has been working to push back against the executive and legislative branches’ sweeping actions, identifying three areas where the disability advocacy community could have maximum impact:
- Litigation: Protecting and defending basic civil rights
- Narrative building: Developing a strong message to better communicate and advocate
- Organization: Building partnerships and coalitions to share resources, knowledge, and collective power
