How horrifying to read the article “UPMC to stop gender-affirming care for patients 18 and under by month’s end” (June 24, TribLive). This treatment can mean life or death (suicide). President Trump also ended the national LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline.
Since ending USAID, some estimates say more than 300,000 people have died and more will die because lifesaving vaccines have also ended.
In the United States, 1 in 5 children are hungry, and the Trump administration has stopped the federal Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program , funding for food banks and dozens of other programs that will affect the sick and underprivileged. The entire staff that operates LIHEAP, which helps pay utility bills, was fired. And he is trying to bring an end to Job Corps, which gives underprivileged teens an education and housing.
According to the article “Housing authority director says federal budget cuts to have drastic impact on residents” (June 26, TribLive), two programs in Westmoreland County — the Family Self Sufficiency Program, which helps low-income people find and afford housing, and the Hope in Life Program, which helps with homemaking, child care, health and wellness, parenting, substance abuse education and job placement services — are on the chopping block.
I thought Trump just lacked empathy, but he seems to enjoy causing chaos and pain to those less fortunate. He’s using the presidency to enrich himself, earning potentially billions so far. I think he is an evil, sadistic, insecure man who cares only for himself.
Carole Hillwig
Greensburg