Trump Budget Shows How Much Black People Have to Lose [Opinion]
March 21, 2017During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump asked Black Americans, “What do you have to lose?” Now that his budget has been released, the answer is clear: Black people in the United States will lose a lot under this presidency.
The budget proposal slashes funding for programs and in areas that are crucial for Black families and individuals. These include Community Development Block Grants, after-school programs, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Pell Grants and the size of the federal labor force.
The president’s proposal cuts 13.2 percent from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) budget. HUD gives federal aid to local agencies that manage housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford. The agency also offers technical and professional assistance in planning, developing and managing this housing to ensure that low-income families, the elderly and people with disabilities have safe, decent places to live.