New York State Nurses Association Editor’s Note: The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) - which represents 42,000 Front Line Nurses and Health Care Professionals who are united for their patients, practice, safe staffing and health care for all, released the following statement in the wake of several Executive Orders issued by the Trump Administration:

We are hearing from many alarmed Members, hospitals and allied Unions and Elected Officials about the chaos and uncertainty that the Federal Government’s “pause” in funding has created.

Medicaid portals were down and Trump Administration Officials dodged questions about the future of Medicaid and funding for other essential services.

After public outcry and lawsuits, the courts put a temporary stop on this illegal withholding of our community resources.

While the Administration has since reconsidered its approach and “unpaused” some, but not all, federal funding – this can be considered as small victory, but it will be a much longer fight to preserve the health care and social services that our Members, patients and communities need to survive and thrive.

We are in a rapidly changing situation day to day, but we know what the Administration’s goals still are.

Based on the Executive Orders Trump issued in the first week of his Presidency and statements from incoming Federal Officials, the Administration still plans to eliminate: At least eight Public Health Programs related to COVID-19 response and recovery; Stronger OSHA Workplace Violence Prevention Standard and OSHA Infectious Diseases Standards; Programs that lower the cost of health care; Protections for reproductive health care; Health care access and privacy protections for Immigrants; Workplace protections for the development of Artificial Intelligence; Protections for transgender and gender non-conforming people; U.S. membership in the World Health Organization, international funding and our role as a global public health leader; All external public health communication from Federal Health Agencies; Equal opportunity employment; Labor rights for Federal Workers and high Labor Standards for Federal Contractors; and The Administration’s longer-term goals include privatizing Medicaid and Medicare and eliminating more Union Rights.  

Front line Nurses and Health Care Professionals must be involved in the decisions that impact our profession and our patients’ and the public’s health.

With new rumors circulating every day, it’s so important that we hear from our Members on the front lines about what is happening in your hospitals, health care facilities, schools and public health departments.

Please reach out and share how these efforts to defund our hospitals and public health infrastructure are affecting you and your patients.  

We will continue to monitor and triage the situation.

We will continue to work on legal, political and operational solutions - especially in hospitals, institutions, and organizations that rely on Medicaid, grants and other federal funding.

We will keep you updated on substantial changes we learn about and ways that we will support coordinated efforts to fight back. 

To Directly Access This NYSNA Statement, Go To: The Fight for Healthcare and Services for Our Communities | New York State Nurses Association