Federal Response

An Urgent Call to Action:

We are calling on our partners — donors + corporations + foundations — to rise with us in this moment of historic uncertainty to support, stabilize and strengthen the nonprofit sector. We will not stand for a pause in our progress together.

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August 2025

Since January, the Executive Branch has frequently issued Executive Orders (EO) and directives for agencies that have impacted our partners and the communities we serve. This surge of information can overwhelm and fragment public discourse and media coverage, making it difficult for people to get information that affects them the most. To help focus our attention, this bulletin breaks down federal directives and developments that impact our communities and partners with updates, analysis, and links to learn more.

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Cross Sector

• Immigration

Immigration

The Department of Homeland Security has terminated Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for immigrants from Nepal, Honduras and Nicaragua. This will put many immigrants at risk, ast TPS protects them from being detained by DHS and is the basis for receiving work and travel authorization. In Massachusetts alone, there are at least 17,135 TPS holders. In response to a “demand letter” from the Administration requesting that Boston and other “sanctuary cities” change course on a variety of supportive immigration practices, Mayor Michelle Wu defended Boston’s adherence to local, state, and federal laws, and pushed back on the Administration’s targeting of U.S. cities. She emphasized the power granted to local government by the United States Constitution over public safety without federal interference. What others are saying: • Boston Globe: Dozens rally in Boston in support of immigrant TPS holders as Trump administration moves toward removing legal status • NPR: DHS ends Temporary Protected Status for thousands from Nicaragua and Honduras • Mass Gov: Guidance for Employers Regarding Immigration and Work Authorization • Office of the Mayor: RE: Response to August 13, 2025 letter from Attorney General Bondi to Mayor Michelle Wu

Safe & Stable Housing

When people can remain in their homes, it benefits everyone. An abundance of safe and stable housing brings dignity and humanity to people, improves health outcomes and decreases emergency and health care utilization and costs, helps us fix past injustices and unlocks the potential of people to thrive in school and work, strengthening our communities. • Homelessness Criminalization Executive Order • Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Funding Cuts

Homelessness Criminalization Executive Order

The Administration recently released an Executive Order that upends years of housing first best practice and expert knowledge on how to best address the homelessness crisis. Instead, it relies on outdated and disproven approaches to addressing homelessness. This Executive Order will likely put many people experiencing homelessness at high risk of incarceration, further displacement, and mental health and substance abuse disorders that can emerge from both. What others are saying: • Massachusetts Supportive Housing Pipeline Coalition: Statement Regarding Executive Order on Homelessness • Boston Indicators: Meeting the Moment: Federal Housing Policies and Massachusetts • NPR: Advocates fear Trump's crackdown in D.C. will put many homeless people behind bars • National Alliance to End Homelessness: Understanding Trump’s Executive Order on Homelessness: Using Harmful Words to Justify Harmful Actions • National Homelessness Law Center:: National Homelessness Law Center condemns Trump’s misguided Executive Order on homelessness • NPR: Trump signs an executive order to make it easier to remove homeless people from streets

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Funding Cuts

The proposed federal budget that continues to be negotiated in DC would cut $4.025 billion from LIHEAP, which provides heating, cooling, and energy assistance to people with low-income, seniors, businesses, veterans and vulnerable families with young children. Without this funding, many households will see their utilities shut off, and access to heating lost with local utilities on the hook. What others are saying: • The Lowell Sun: Eliminating LIHEAP would be a Cruel Blow to Massachusetts Families • Grist: Trump calls program to help low-income Americans pay their energy bills ‘unnecessary’

Early Education & Out of School Time

Addressing current gaps in access and affordability of early education and out-of-school-time will strengthen children’s foundation for learning and engagement during their early years and support caregivers to stay in the workforce, bolstering the economy. High quality programming contributes to increased attendance and improved student achievement and social-emotional wellbeing, closes opportunity and achievement gaps for Black, Latino and immigrant youth and fosters upward mobility to break cycles of intergenerational poverty. • SNAP-Ed, Impact on Early Education • Changes to student loans threaten early childcare workforce

SNAP-Ed, Impact on Early Education

Food assistance in the USA is primarily run through SNAP, which overtime has been focused on encouraging healthier options. However, it is not enough to simply remove highly processed food and sugary drinks from the list of SNAP eligible foods. SNAP-Ed is focused on educating children to cook healthy and tasty meals with simple ingredients. Due to the recently passed so-called “big beautiful bill”, SNAP-Ed has been essentially eliminated, which will deprive future generations of the knowledge and skills to eat healthy at a low cost. What others are saying: • Stat News: Budget cuts knock down a ‘pillar of public health,’ ending nutrition education • NYC Food Policy: The Impact of Proposed Cuts to SNAP-Ed • WBALTV 11: Maryland SNAP-Ed program to shut down Oct. 1; 70 employees, 700 community partners impacted • WBUR: New requirements make it harder for Americans who need help to get it

Changes to student loans threaten early childcare workforce

The recently enacted “one big beautiful bill” has made significant changes to student loan forgiveness eligibility. We covered some of those changes in our July edition. One of the many effects that this change will have is on the early education workforce, which is already under-resourced.. Given historically low-wages and the requirement for a college degree to enter the field, these changes to student loan forgiveness may put even further strain on the workforce. What others are saying: • PBS: Early education experts see this new Trump rule as 'the wrong step at the wrong time'

Youth & Young Adults

Equitable access to educational and career pathways requires prioritizing the well-being and holistic needs of young people, creating a cascading positive impact. This will ensure more youth engage in learning and development opportunities, support young people in managing multiple responsibilities and roles within their family and community, increase enrollment and completion rates for college and career pathways and empower young people to make progress toward their dreams. • Healthcare Access

Healthcare Access

The “big beautiful bill” has increased the barriers to receiving Medicaid by imposing more stringent requirements and increased reporting to confirm eligibility. These changes will impact a significant number of young adults who will have to navigate the healthcare system, potentially leaving many without coverage even if they are eligible. This is particularly impactful as young adults are already more likely to be uninsured than all other age groups. What others are saying: • Urban Institute: Medicaid Cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Leave 3 in 10 Young Adults Vulnerable to Losing Health Care Access

Economic Inclusion

When people increase their financial wellbeing, it benefits everyone. An abundance of income and assets can put goals like home ownership within reach, empower individuals to further their education, improve mental and physical health, foster upward mobility and break cycles of intergenerational poverty. • Social Security Changes

Social Security Changes

Early in the year, the Administration has changed how the Social Security Administration (SSA) handles questions after laying off some 7,000 staff. The new approach leans heavily on the online SSA portal and automated phone navigation. This month, the SSA put out a report on the efficacy of this new approach. While wait times have been reduced for people calling with questions, according to the report, it remains unclear if the new system has resulted in an increase in resolving issues or questions. Additionally, the push towards a “digital first” approach could put seniors who do not have much access to the internet or are accustomed to navigating a website portal in a difficult situation if they face issues with their social security benefits. What others are saying: • Newsweek: Social Security Announces Major Update on Changes Benefiting Recipients • Newsweek: Social Security Warning Over Changes Issued by Bernie Sanders • The Hill: Trump issues Social Security proclamation • CNBC: Social Security marks its 90th anniversary — here’s what could happen to future benefits