Defending Public Services

The AFT has worked tirelessly with our three federal locals, including the Federation of Indian Service Employees, to resist the attacks on federal workers. FISE leaders and members have met with members of Congress, spoken to the media, and made it clear that attacks on Native Americans is unacceptable. This work resulted in the Office of Personnel Management walking back its attack on probationary employees; the Department of the Interior now has rehired many of them. FISE is continuing to educate members about the evolving federal situation.

The AFT successfully sued to block the Department of Education and the federal personnel office from sharing data with DOGE, the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Read our news release here.

The AFT sued over the Trump administration's deadline to end school and college diversity programs. Read our news release here.

The AFT joined a coalition of veterans' groups, health professionals and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington in a lawsuit that challenges the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency.

The AFT held more than 2,000 events and activities on March 4 as part of the Protect Our Kids Day of Action. Among the events: a virtual teach-in in Detroit; a rally at the New York Capitol in Albany; a “clap-in” for students in Cincinnati; “walk-ins” in Chicago and Albuquerque, N.M.; letter writing in Pittsburgh and Fairfax County, Va.; and news conferences in Florida, New Jersey and Puerto Rico. Read our news release here and find more information here.

The American people did not vote for massive cuts to Medicaid and the social programs where AFT members work. The AFT and our 1.8 million members are working hard to ensure that we resist these hostile attacks on essential programs and support our communities.

Write to Congress and tell your lawmakers: Hands off Medicaid! Below are some resources about the fight to protect Medicaid:

1. Here's a video ad outlining Medicaid cuts.
2. Here is our fact sheet about Medicaid.
3. Here is a comparison between the House and Senate budget proposals.
4. Here is a quick way to learn about how the Trump-controlled House and Senate would harm your congressional district.

Get The Facts: How Trump's Joint Address to Congress Impacts Public Employees. In his address to Congress, President Trump glossed over how his recent actions have harmed public employees. He also amplified his lies about federal savings and made it clear that his plan is to further enrich billionaires and corporations, not lower costs for working Americans.

Democracy Forward Response Center. Real-time analysis of Trump-Vance administration actions; the center offers ways to support legal challenges and provide resources for the pro-democracy community.

Federal Policy Watch. This online tool documents and explains the actions taken by the Trump administration regarding immigration, workers' rights, unions and organizing, race and gender equity, jobs and wages, health and safety, retirement security, trade, taxes and attacks on regulations.

Center for American Progress. Nearly 80 million low-income children and adults, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities are covered by Medicaid or CHIP. Take a look at the map to see how your congressional district could be harmed.

United for Medical Research. This interactive map shows the impact of NIH funding in different states and what the states will lose in medical research monies by state.

American Community Survey Project. This database breaks down the number of federal workers in congressional district, counties, and metro areas across the country, using data from the American Community Survey.

How You Can Protect Democracy sets out 29 concrete actions you can take right now to protect democracy.