Disability News August 9, 2025
Editor's Note: The disability community is increasingly preferring to use identity-first language (disabled person) in place of person-first language (person with a disability). This is because many in the community view disability as being a core component of identity, much like race and gender. Some members of the community, such as people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, still prefer person-first language. Both should be considered valid. Articles shared in this newsletter may contain one or the other (or both) depending on the author's preference, and if they themselves have a disability.
State Fact Sheets: How the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans Are Increasing Costs for American Families by multiple authors on August 6, 2025 at the Center for American Progress
"This series of fact sheets provides insights into how the OBBBA and the administration’s policies will increase the costs of health care, food, energy, and borrowing in each state in the near future."
RFK Jr. pulls $500 million in funding for mRNA vaccine contracts published on August 5, 2025 at NPR News (originally The Associated Press)
"Kennedy's decision to terminate the projects is the latest in a string of decisions that have put the longtime vaccine critic's doubts about shots into full effect at the nation's health department. Kennedy has pulled back recommendations around the COVID-19 shots, fired the panel that makes vaccine recommendations, and refused to offer a vigorous endorsement of vaccinations as a measles outbreak worsened."
New executive order puts all grants under political control by John Timmer on August 7, 2025 at Ars Technica
"On Thursday, the Trump administration issued an executive order asserting political control over grant funding, including all federally supported research. The order requires that any announcement of funding opportunities be reviewed by the head of the agency or someone they designate, which means a political appointee will have the ultimate say over what areas of science the US funds. Individual grants will also require clearance from a political appointee and "must, where applicable, demonstrably advance the President’s policy priorities." "
Trump Administration Poised to Cut SSI Benefits for Nearly 400,000 Low-Income Disabled and Older People by Kathleen Romig and Devin O’Connor on August 7, 2025 at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
"Under the rule, nearly 400,000 SSI beneficiaries living with family or friends experiencing their own financial struggles likely would have their benefits cut — typically by hundreds of dollars per month — or lose eligibility altogether.[2] And yet the average annual savings from these benefit cuts would barely pay for a single day of the massive tax cuts for the wealthy that are part of the Republican megabill enacted in July.[3] At the same time, the rule would make it harder for eligible people to get and keep SSI, creating new red tape for beneficiaries and more work for the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) already depleted and overburdened staff."