FOR THE COMMON GOOD
Breaking down the issues & ways to make an impact.
We are just a few months into the new administration, and we are experiencing a multitude of threats that put our hard-won rights in peril. Women Employed will advocate even harder for working women and their families, and keep our supporters, like you, informed. That’s why we’ve launched For the Common Good, where WE will break down important issues that impact working women and their families—including the roles and the work of key federal agencies, departments, and programs—and actions YOU can take to make an impact.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUES
The Federal Election Commission (FEC) & U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC)
Our voting rights are at stake. The Senate could vote any day on the SAVE Act, a bill that could strip voting rights from tens of millions of eligible American citizens. Meanwhile, the administration is also taking steps to destroy the independence of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC)—two agencies that, together, protect the integrity of our elections and ensure Americans have the ability to vote.
- Learn about the FEC and EAC’s critical work, its impact, and why it matters in these videos featuring Starr De Los Santos, Women Employed’s Associate Director of Coalitions:
The FEC and EAC: 3 Things to Know
A Deeper Dive Into the FEC and EAC
- Then read our post on Medium for more info about the current threats and actions YOU can take to make a difference.
- Want to take action RIGHT NOW?
- Call your U.S. senators and representatives. Demand they protect YOUR right to by voting NO on the SAVE Act. Act now.
The USDA Food and Nutrition Service
Congress is negotiating a budget proposal from the Administration that will necessitate massive cuts to a range of federal programs, including an estimated $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Both of these programs are administered by the Food and Nutrition Service, which is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Food and Nutrition Service is also facing severe layoffs—the newest victim of the Trump administration’s ongoing directives to gut the federal workforce.
- Learn about the Food and Nutrition Service’s critical work, its impact, and why it matters in these videos featuring Amanda Sousa, Women Employed’s Senior Development Officer, and a mom of two:
The Food and Nutrition Service: 3 Things You Need to Know
A Deeper Dive Into the Food and Nutrition Service
- Then read our post on Medium for more info about the current threats and actions YOU can take to make a difference.
- Want to take action RIGHT NOW?
- Call your U.S. senators and representatives. Demand they vote NO on cuts to SNAP, WIC, and other programs that working families need to survive and thrive.
- Here’s a suggested call script: My name is [NAME], and I live in [CITY, STATE]. As your constituent, I urge you to vote NO on any federal budget cuts to SNAP, WIC, and other programs working families need to survive and thrive. These cost-effective programs play a crucial role in reducing poverty, improving health and economic outcomes, and supporting rural communities. Millions of families need these programs to ensure they get the nutrition they need to stay healthy and strong. Nobody should go hungry in America. Please reject these cuts.
- Don’t know who your officials are, or how to reach them? Here’s a great tool for finding your members of Congress.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
In his first term, President Trump consistently acted against the interests of working people. And in the first weeks of his second term, he has taken aim at the DOL, taking steps to shrink and potentially dismantle OSHA, the agency that enforces workplace safety rules, decimating the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP), eliminating federal anti-discrimination programs, and more.
- Learn about the Department of Labor’s critical work, its impact, and why it matters in these videos featuring Sarah Labadie, Women Employed’s Director of Advocacy and Policy:
The U.S. Department of Labor: 3 Things You Need to Know
A Deeper Dive Into the Department of Labor*
- Then read our post on Medium for more info about the current threats and actions YOU can take to make a difference.
- Want to take action RIGHT NOW?
- Take Action to Save the Women’s Bureau. As the U.S. Department of Labor faces devastating cuts and staff layoffs, the Women’s Bureau and its critical program hang in the balance. Take action with Equal Rights Advocates.
- Call your federal legislators. Demand they hold the Trump Administration accountable to the law and to the separation of powers that ensures the strength of our democracy — including by restoring the accessibility of workplace safety documents, and protecting bedrock civil rights laws and protections. Don’t know who your officials are, or how to reach them? Here’s a great tool for finding all of your elected officials—local, state, and federal!
*Correction: Our “deeper dive” video suggests that the NLRB is part of the Department of Labor. The NLRB is an independent agency, not under the Department of Labor, but the firing of its commissioner is part of Trump’s larger work to decimate workers’ rights and the agencies that uphold them.
The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
One of President Trump’s first actions in office was rescinding Executive Order 11246, which authorized the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP). On April 16th, the administration shuttered the vast majority of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Program’s (OFCCP’s) offices and put the overwhelming majority of OFCCP employees on administrative leave—a likely step towards massive layoffs. Read our statement.
- Learn about the OFCCP’s critical work, its impact, and why it matters in these videos featuring Sharmili Majmudar, Women Employed’s Executive Vice President of Policy, Programs, and Research:
The OFCCP: 3 Things You Need to Know
A Deeper Dive Into the OFCCP
- Then read our post on Medium for more info about the current threats and actions YOU can take to make a difference.
- Want to take action RIGHT NOW?
- Call your federal legislators. Revoking EO 11246 is only one of the attacks on the American values of fairness and equal opportunity by the Trump administration. Demand your elected officials stand up for working people and do everything they can to protect our bedrock civil rights laws and protections. Don’t know who your officials are, or how to reach them? Here’s a great tool for finding all of your elected officials—local, state, and federal!
The Department of Education
The Trump administration is following the Project 2025 playbook in escalating the threats to the Department of Education. Dismantling or diminishing the Department of Education puts student loans, funds for lower-income communities, college financial aid, support for children with disabilities, and tracking of student achievement at risk. Contrary to his rhetoric, the Department of Education was established by Congress, and cannot be dismantled by executive action.
- Read WE’s Statement on the the Executive Order to Dismantle the U.S. Department of Education.
- Read our post on Medium to learn more about the Department of Education, its impact on Illinois, the current threats it’s facing, and to TAKE ACTION.
- NPR: A guide to what the U.S. Education Department does (and doesn’t) do
- Watch the video below, where Christina Warden, WE’s Director of Policy and Programs, breaks down the work of the Department of Education.
- Want to take action RIGHT NOW?
- Fight attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion in education. Use the administration’s “End DEI Portal” to share examples of what REAL discrimination looks like. Use this guidance from our friends at The Leadership Conference.
- Call your federal legislators. Demand your elected officials stand up for students and educators and do everything they can to protect the Department of Education. Don’t know who your officials are, or how to reach them? Here’s a great tool for finding all of your elected officials—local, state, and federal!
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The administration has taken extensive action to dismantle, destroy, and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from the federal government, and to pressure colleges and universities, and private-sector employers to do the same.
- Learn more about what diversity, equity, and inclusion really means, its impact, and why it matters in these videos featuring Cherita Ellens, Women Employed’s President and CEO:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Myth vs. Reality
A Deeper Dive Into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- A note on DEI from former EEOC Officials: Statement of Former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Officials on Employer Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Efforts
- Newsweek: Nearly Half of Companies Surveyed Say They Will Maintain DEI Effort in 2025
- UPDATE – Associated Press: Judge largely blocks Trump’s executive orders ending federal support for DEI programs
- Crain’s Op Ed by WE’s Cherita Ellens: Opinion: This attack on decades of civil rights workplace protections must be resisted
- STATEMENT: Women Employed Condemns Administration’s Attack on Decades of Civil Rights Workplace Protections
- ABC-7 Story featuring WE’s Sharmili Majmudar: Trump administration directs all federal DEI staff be put on leave
- Associated Press: Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave
- New York Times: U.S. Orders Federal D.E.I. Efforts to Shut Down by Wednesday Night
- Axios:
Federal Funding for Community Programs
UPDATE – CNN: White House rescinds memo on federal aid freeze that caused widespread confusion
- Associated Press: Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans
- Essence (via Instagram): How Pausing Federal Aid to Programs Could Affect the Average American
- New York Times: Here’s How Government Funding Works
- Reuters: White House pauses federal grant, loan other assistance programs
- Associated Press: Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration freeze on federal grants and loans
EEOC & NLRB
Other Issues
- The Hill: Federal judge rules Trump must reinstate many fired federal employees
- Economic Policy Institute: A snapshot of the federal workforce that is now under attack from the Trump administration
- Read our Post-Election Statement: Ready for What’s Next.
- Subscribe to our Blog on Medium to learn about the issues.
- Read about Women Employed’s work and the initiatives we’re working to advance.
TAKE ACTION
Have 5-10 Minutes?
- Look Up Your Elected Officials. Make sure you know who represents you at the local, state, and federal level.
- Call Your Federal Officials:
- Demand Congress protect our voting rights by OPPOSING the SAVE Act. Learn more and take action.
- Urge your U.S. representative to vote NO on HR 32, a bill that would strip federal funding from sanctuary cities and states (like Chicago and Illinois). Learn more and take action with our friends at Raise the Floor Alliance.
- General Actions:
- Demand your federal officials take a stand against the attacks on the American values of fairness and equal opportunity by the Trump administration, and do everything they can to protect our bedrock civil rights laws and protections.
- Call on your federal officials to stand up for students and educators and do everything they can to protect the Department of Education.
- Email Your Elected Officials:
- Take Action to Save the Women’s Bureau. As the U.S. Department of Labor faces devastating cuts and staff layoffs, the Women’s Bureau and its critical program hang in the balance. Take action with Equal Rights Advocates.
- Tell your representative to vote NO on the disastrous budget bill that could defund Medicaid and SNAP. Take action with our friends at the National Women’s Law Center.
- The Trump administration closed at least five of the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) regional offices in Seattle, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston and New York. Contact your Congressional leaders TODAY with our partners at Raising Illinois and demand that they retract the closures and reinstate staff immediately.
- Sign Up for Women Employed’s Action Network. We’ll email you with timely actions to take that will make a difference.
- Make a Gift to Women Employed. Ensure WE can stay nimble, address the most urgent threats, and seize key opportunities to make an impact.
Have a Half Hour?
- Know Your Workplace Rights. Read our rights on the job resources.
- Fight attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion in education. Use the administration’s “End DEI Portal” to share examples of what REAL discrimination looks like. Use this guidance from our friends at The Leadership Conference.
- Protect and Care for Yourself. Our friends at Supermajority have resources to help.
Have 1-2 Hours a Month?
- Join our Advocacy Council and attend our monthly meetings. Our next meeting is on April, 23rd.
RESOURCES FROM OUR PARTNERS
General Resources:
- Forefront is collecting stories of impact to inform our conversations with policy-makers at the federal, state, and local level: Forefront is collecting stories to understand 1) how the Executive Orders (EOs) are disrupting work, impacting people, and changing practice, regardless of whether related funding streams have been disrupted; 2) which types of programs and organizations are experiencing disruptions in federal funding streams, and/or which are seeing impacts to the terms and conditions of federal contracts; and 3) what supports our stakeholders need most.
- Supermajority: A compilation of resources on topics ranging from from reproductive freedom, to immigration, to community care, joy, and more.
- People’s March: A toolkit of curated actions from grassroots partners across the movement. Whether you’re passionate about voting rights, gender equity, or economic justice—there’s a clear path to make an impact RIGHT NOW.
Resources for Immigrants, Refugees, and Migrants:
- Privacy Protections in Selected Federal Benefits Programs: This resource provides information about the privacy protections in place to ensure that immigrant families can safely access health care, food, housing, and other essential assistance.
- The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant, Migrant, and Refugee Rights (IMMR), City of Chicago: Know Your Rights Resource Guide—a comprehensive tool to help protect and empower our communities, including legal services and hotlines, key protections, emergency family planning resources, healthcare options for all—including undocumented individuals, and how to recognize and report hate crimes and hate incidents. Available in three languages:
- The CHAAD Project: Information on what you should do when ICE comes to your restaurant.
- Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR):
- Arise Chicago:
Resources for Federal Employees:
- Rise Up: Federal Workers Legal Defense Network: This new network with federal worker unions and groups like We the Action and Democracy Forward, among others, connects federal workers to a network of thousands of lawyers helping to get workers the free legal support they need.
- Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE): a fact sheet with information on eligibility requirements, how to file a claim, benefit amounts, and more.
