Structural Eugenics Part II: Trump's War Against Americans

Corporate media continues to ignore this deadly crisis, even as it is set to get much, much worse -- here's what you need to know

In April, I wrote about how MAGA Republicans are enacting Structural Eugenics by weaponizing surveillance and censorship to target marginalized communities while ignoring real public health crises. Now, just weeks later, the Trump regime has escalated its campaign of structural eugenics—this time through the federal budget. These are not just policy shifts; they are deliberate acts of cruelty designed to eliminate the most vulnerable among us, and it is critical we remain aware of these serious harms to our health. Let’s Address This.

1. Cutting Narcan: A Death Sentence for Those Suffering From Addiction

The Trump regime is proposing cuts to federal programs that provide naloxone (Narcan), a medication that reverses opioid overdoses. This move comes despite naloxone being widely credited for saving tens of thousands of lives during the nationwide opioid epidemic, particularly amid the rise of fentanyl. Public health officials warn that such cuts could reverse years of progress and lead to increased overdose deaths, especially among vulnerable populations, including teens and first-time users.

2. Slashing $1 Billion in School Mental Health Grants

The Trump regime has likewise announced the cancellation of $1 billion in federal grants designated for school mental health programs, originally funded through a 2022 bill signed by President Joe Biden. These grants aimed to help schools hire psychologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals. You’ll note how every time we suffer through yet another mass shooting, MAGA Republicans claim “It’s not the guns, it’s the mental illness.” Notwithstanding that it is in fact the guns, now we have yet more proof of MAGA hypocrisy, as they cut critical mental health treatment for vulnerable communities. The cruelty, it appears, is the point.

3. Gutting Cancer Research, Including Pediatric Studies

The Trump administration has proposed significant cuts to childhood cancer research funding, including nearly $1 billion from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These cuts threaten to halt progress in developing life-saving treatments, particularly for children, as pediatric cancer research already receives a small fraction of federal cancer research funding. Advocates warn that reducing resources jeopardizes the future of clinical trials, new therapies, and equitable care for all children facing cancer.

A government that cuts funding to research ways to prevent childhood cancer is not a government serving the American people.

4. Slashing $880 Billion from Medicaid

The Trump administration's budget proposal includes cutting $880 billion from Medicaid over the next decade. This move would significantly impact low-income individuals, particularly Black and brown communities, by reducing access to essential healthcare services. The proposed cuts are part of a broader effort to allegedly reduce federal spending, but fact checkers point out this is simply not the case. Instead, it’s a ruse to give billionaires a bigger tax cut, and increase military spending by $119B to a shocking $1.01T—the most in world history.

I met with Congressman Jamie Raskin last week on the Capitol steps to speak out against these draconian and deadly cuts. I asked him what we can and should be doing to fight back? Be sure to listen to his answer and take action.

5. Lifting the Federal Moratorium on the Death Penalty

President Trump has signed an executive order to restore the federal death penalty, lifting the moratorium implemented in 2021. In doing so he wholly ignores the massive injustices inherent in our nation’s criminal prosecution system.

The Department of Justice is now directed to seek the death penalty in applicable federal cases. This move is rightly raising concerns about the fairness and application of capital punishment, especially given its disproportionate impact on marginalized communities.

Conclusion: This Is Structural Eugenics

These policy changes are not isolated decisions; they represent a systematic approach to governance that devalues and endangers the lives of marginalized communities. By cutting essential health services, mental health support, and research funding, while simultaneously reinstating the death penalty, the Trump administration is enacting a form of structural eugenics—policies that disproportionately harm specific populations under the guise of fiscal responsibility or law and order.

We must recognize and challenge these actions for what they are: deliberate strategies that threaten the health, safety, and lives of the most vulnerable among us. It's imperative to stay informed, hold our leaders accountable, and advocate for policies that uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals.