FOR THE COMMON GOOD
Breaking down the issues & ways to make an impact.
We are just weeks into the new administration, and we are already 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 U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
The Senate HELP Committee held a hearing on February 19th on Lori Chavez-DeRemer, President Trump’s pick for Secretary of Labor. 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, illegally firing a commissioner at the National Labor Relations Board, 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?
- 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, protecting bedrock civil rights laws and protections, and ensuring the NLRB has the quorum necessary to conduct their work. 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 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).
- 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 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?
- 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!
Affirmative Action and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- 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
- 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.
- Then Call Your Federal Legislators.
- Call your federal representative and urge them 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.
- Demand they 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 them to stand up for students and educators and do everything they can to protect the Department of Education.
- 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.
- 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 March 11th.
RESOURCES FROM OUR PARTNERS
General Resources:
- Unemployment Compensation for Federal Employees (UCFE): a fact sheet with information on eligibility requirements, how to file a claim, benefit amounts, and more.
- 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:
- 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: