Massachusetts Nurses Association Condemns Federal Overreach and a Disregard for the Rule of Law by New Administration that is Harming Patients and Caregivers

CANTON, Mass., Feb. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The MNA Board of Directors – registered nurses and healthcare professionals elected by their 25,000 MNA colleagues – express our profound distress and condemnation of recent actions taken by the federal administration. We have been monitoring the transition and have serious concerns about numerous executive orders and proposed legislation. These changes not only undermine the foundational principles of our democracy but also jeopardize the health and well-being of our patients, the stability of the healthcare workforce, and fundamental union rights.

Healthcare and Medical Research Funding Under Threat

The administration and Congressional Republicans are considering substantial federal funding cuts to Medicaid. These reductions could lead to decreased funding for state programs, potentially affecting healthcare services for low-income individuals and people with disabilities. Among the proposals are lifetime caps on Medicaid benefits, work requirements for Medicaid eligibility, and a restructuring of Medicaid from its current structure to block grants or per capita caps.

This potential seismic shift in Medicaid would limit federal funding to states, potentially leading to reduced coverage and benefits as states adjust to constrained budgets. Such a significant transformation of Medicaid program's structure and funding would have far-reaching implications for healthcare access and equity across the United States. The changes would disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, widening health disparities and undermining public health initiatives.

The administration is also planning to cut $4 billion in grants the National Institutes of Health provides to universities and academic medical centers by reducing the amount of money available for research overhead costs. This move would severely impact research into cures and treatment for cancer, diabetes, heart diseases, infectious diseases, and many other conditions. By threatening the funding of research institutions across the country, the administration is sending us backward on critical medical advancements. Rather than saving money, this funding reduction will actually cost us untold resources in the future as people continue to suffer from health problems that could have been averted or lessened.

Local Impact

• The Massachusetts Attorney General joined 21 other state AGs in suing the administration over its reductions in biomedical science funding.
• US Representative Jake Auchinclosssaid the cuts to NIH funding would reduce at least $2 billion in federal funds from the Massachusetts economy.
• In the 2024 budget year, 219 organizations in Massachusetts received approximately $3.46 billion in NIH funding to support 5,783 research projects, per the AG, with organizations benefiting including UMass Amherst, UMass Chan Medical School, Brigham & Women's Hospital and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard.
• As part of the administration's purposeful chaos, MA AG Andrea Campbell said that the state tried to draw $40 million from Medicaid during the last week of January but temporarily could not access the funds.
• Fenway Health told Boston 25 that the organization receives $20 million dollars a year in federal funding. Fenway is analyzing how the freeze could impact its more than 30,000 patients and the life-saving research it conducts.

Life Saving Medical Information Faces Censorship

Soon after taking office, the administration removed many pages from the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies. This included information related reproductive, LGBTQ+, gender and racial health. Some pages, such as the CDC's compendium of information about HIV, were taken down and then restored. The administration's efforts to align federal government functions with its bigoted campaign rhetoric are putting people in real danger by denying them important information about their medical conditions.

Local Impact

• One Massachusetts educator, Dr. Celeste Royce of Harvard Medical School, told the Boston Globe that a study she wrote on endometriosis had vanished from a government website simply because of a mention of "trans and non-gender-conforming" people.
• The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health called the removal of health data a "crisis," while trying to preserve information they expect to be taken down in the future.
• A health equity report recently released by the Boston Public Health Commission demonstrated the value of such data. Race-based data helped researchers determine that there is a 23-year difference in life expectancy between neighborhoods in Roxbury and Back Bay, despite being 2.3 miles apart.

DEI Ban Harms Patients and Caregivers

The administration's actions cancelling DEI programs is a callous attempt to discount and discredit the contributions of groups that have been traditionally minoritized, silenced and sidelined. These efforts create division in an already divided country – jeopardizing the physical, mental and emotional well-being of our patients and communities. The executive order banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs extends not only to the Department of Health and Human Services, but also to many related organizations and programs. The American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), for instance, said the order would impact DEI programs at academic medical centers receiving federal funds.

Due to the executive order, federal healthcare workers and contractors could be harassed based on their race, gender and other aspects of their identities. The change also undermines decades of effort to diversify the healthcare workforce and better represent the populations being served. It is clear from peer-reviewed research that improved healthcare workforce diversity enhances outcomes for people of color, disabled people, women, LGBTQIA+ patients, and others.

Local Impact

• The elimination of support for DEI initiatives will undercut efforts by health care providers in Massachusetts to address health care inequity, which is already negatively impacting the care of minorities and other marginalized communities.
• The prevalence of severe maternal morbidity nearly doubled in Massachusetts from 2011 to 2020, with Black non-Hispanic birthing people consistently experiencing the highest rates of labor and delivery complications among all races and ethnicities, according to a 2023 DPH report.
• The DPH report also revealed significant inequities experienced by birthing people with disabilities – particularly for those with intellectual, vision, and mobility-related disabilities.
• Community health centers in Massachusetts received memos from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) ordering them to abandon federally-funded programs related to DEI and gender identity, according to MassLive.
• Health insurers such as Harvard Pilgrim Health Care have programs aimed at improved healthcare equity that are under threat from the administration's actions.

Undermining Global Health Collaboration

The administration's demand of reforms within the World Health Organization (WHO), including appointing an American as director-general, along with its previous steps taken to withdraw from the WHO, weakens the collaborative approach to dealing with global health crises. This approach isolates the United States and impedes efforts to manage pandemics and other health emergencies, endangering global and domestic health security.

As described by Judd Walson, MD, MPH, Robert E. Black Chair in International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: "It is likely to cause enormous strain on the global community. Ultimately the global community, including Americans, will suffer and have poorer health. … We benefit in real ways here at home from the work of the WHO. This is not only about what we do for others; it's also about what we do for ourselves."

Ebola is a stark example of the impact of the attack on global health infrastructure. CBS News reported that U.S. health officials are concerned that the shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development missions and the stalling of foreign aid has disrupted response to Uganda's Ebola outbreak. WHO staff, under threat from the administration's withdrawal, have been instrumental in combating such Ebola outbreaks, as well as COVID-19, HIV/AIDS and malaria.

Local Impact

• An example of the impact of WHO locally is the multi-layered response to the COVID-19 pandemic. WHO data about global health and spread of the virus informed public health authorities at the state and local level in Massachusetts. Leaving the WHO would mean the United States losing access to this critical data.

Labor Rights Under Attack and Justice Delayed

The administration's executive orders have imposed a regulatory freeze on all executive departments and agencies, mandating the withdrawal of unpublished rules and delaying the enactment of pending ones. This freeze hampers the Department of Labor's (DOL) ability to implement and enforce regulations that protect workers' rights, including those related to labor organizing. This denies healthcare professionals timely justice and impedes their ability to advocate for safer working conditions and fair compensation.

Soon after taking office, the President fired National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo and NLRB member Gwynne Wilcox, the first Black woman to serve on the board. Appointed by former President Biden, Abruzzo had focused during her tenure on expanding worker rights. The dismissals leave the board unable to rule on even routine cases because combined with existing vacancies there are just two members. The illegal move to fire Wilcox has been challenged in court.

At least one employer – Amazon-owned Whole Foods – has already taken advantage of the administration's NLRB purge to union bust. Whole Foods is disputing a successful union election at a Philadelphia store, citing the removal of NLRB members and the lack of a quorum. The result is certain to be long delays as the legal issue is adjudicated, delaying collective bargaining and making it even more difficult for these unionized workers to express their rights.

Local Impact

• In Massachusetts, the MNA has numerous unfair labor practices charges filed against healthcare employers through the NLRB. The administration's gutting of the national NLRB and its lack of a quorum thrown into question how quickly these charges will be processed.
• MNA charges have been validated by the NLRB and moved to complaint against Tenet Healthcare for the company's violation of the rights of St. Vincent Hospital nurses. These complaints and other wrongs committed against our nurses stand little chance of being addressed by an agency that has been unduly politicized and stripped of its power to protect these or any workers in Massachusetts.

Erosion of Vulnerable Population Protections

The administration is continuing a political campaign strategy of targeting vulnerable populations, issuing executive orders restricting access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth, leading some hospitals to stop providing this care. By ordering a narrow definition of the sexes and halting federal support for gender-affirming health care for those under age 19, the administration is endangering the health of transgender individuals and further diminishing anti-discrimination protections in healthcare. These orders create an environment of fear and uncertainty among healthcare workers and patients.

Local Impact

• Massachusetts healthcare facilities and advocacy groups say they are reviewing the administration's actions on gender-affirming care and are considering legal challenges based on the Equal Protection Clause in the 14th Amendment.

Devastating Immigration Crackdown

The administration's stringent immigration policies and proposed changes have thrown communities into chaos. Raids by ICE agents are ripping families apart. By taking away protected statuses of people who came to the United States fleeing persecution or violence, the federal government is breaking its promises and diminishing its place in the world. Patients and caregivers have already been affected.

The MNA, healthcare facilities, and the Massachusetts Attorney General have been providing guidance about how to respond to immigration raids or attempts by ICE agents to detain patients. The crackdown also threatens the healthcare workforce, as 28% of workers who care directly for people in nursing homes and other forms of long-term care are immigrants. Rollbacks to Temporary Protected Status or future changes to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which shield certain immigrants from deportation, could impact healthcare workers who are immigrants. This instability not only affects the professionals involved but also compromises patient care quality and access.

In addition, research shows that the fear of deportation and harassment correlates to a lack of access to healthcare services. "Undocumented immigrants may fear that seeking health care could lead to detection by immigration officials or that their use of government services will prevent them from eventually obtaining legal status," according to a study in the American Journal of Public Health.

Local Impact

• In guidance issued January 31, MA AG Andrea Campbell wrote that healthcare providers are "concerned that individuals may be deferring necessary healthcare out of fear that they may be ineligible to receive healthcare services, and that accessing care might lead to enforcement or otherwise adversely impact their immigration status."
• Massachusetts hospitals and clinics are posting privacy rights in emergency rooms in multiple languages to ensure patients feel safe, according to Becker's Hospital Review.
• East Boston restaurants reported a drop in customers in their immigrant-rich community due to worries about ICE raids.

Dangers of Climate Policies on Health and Safety

As an organization representing nurses and healthcare professionals and dedicated to protecting patient health, we strongly oppose the recent executive actions that reverse climate protections. These decisions directly threaten public health, increase healthcare burdens, and endanger frontline workers.

The administration's immediate move to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and halt financial commitments to global climate initiatives weakens international efforts to combat climate change, exacerbating extreme weather events that disrupt healthcare infrastructure and put vulnerable populations at risk. In the United States, the administration has lifted restrictions on fossil fuel production, which will lead to increases in air pollution, exposure to harmful toxins, and a worsening of respiratory illnesses such as asthma and COPD.

By freezing billions in congressionally approved funds for clean energy, conservation, and public health projects, critical programs that address heat-related illnesses, disaster preparedness, and pollution mitigation will be delayed. Additionally, regulatory changes will weaken worker protections, especially for those in industries facing extreme heat and toxic exposure.

Local Impact

• The administration's funding freeze temporarily blocked access to federal climate change grants for Massachusetts' energy and environmental agencies. The disruption, as described by Mystic River Watershed Association, puts non-profit groups working on climate change efforts "in a very vulnerable position" when it comes to planning.
• $1 billion awarded to Massachusetts and other New England states to build a more resilient energy grid, lower costs, and create thousands of jobs are in jeopardy under the new administration.
• Those grants include $156 million from the Inflation Reduction Act to build solar panels in low-income and disadvantaged communities in the state, and $35 million to purchase electric school buses in Boston.
• In Springfield, a $20 million grant to provide homes in disadvantaged neighborhoods with new roofs and efficient windows, to fix roads and monitor air quality is under threat based on the administration's approach to climate change initiatives.

Housing Efforts Imperiled

Two of the administration's main economic approaches – enacting tariffs and cutting the corporate tax rate – will have a negative impact on much-needed housing growth. The President has proposed further cutting the federal corporate income tax rate from 21 percent to 15 percent. Research from the previous corporate rate cut shows this reduction harmed the production of low-income housing. Additionally, tariffs against Canada and Mexico are expected to increase housing production costs. 

Local Impact

• MA Gov. Maura Healey warned that housing costs would rise and production would fall under the administration's tariffs.
• The state's comprehensive housing plan, released this month, shows that Massachusetts needs to increase its year-round housing supply by at least 222,000 units from 2025 to 2035 to stay competitive and lower costs.
• Massachusetts is in particular need of affordable housing. A November 2024 report by the MassINC Policy Center found the state's Gateway Cities need 83,000 new homes and apartments over the next decade.

Consumer Protections Weakened

We are deeply concerned about the undermining of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The dismissal of CFPB Director Rohit Chopra and immediate suspension of all CFPB activities, including rulemaking, litigation, enforcement, and public communications, poses significant risks to patients and healthcare workers. Financial stability is a critical determinant of health. Weakened consumer protections can lead to increased financial exploitation, exacerbating stress-related health issues among vulnerable populations.

Local Impact

• U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who came up with the idea for the CFPB and made sure it was created during the Obama Administration, is sounding the alarm about the agency. "If you have a bank account, or a credit card, or a mortgage, or a student loan, this is code red," Sen. Warren said in a video.  If the administration succeeds in destroying the agency, "CEOs on Wall Street will once again be free to trick, trap and cheat you."

MNA Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Call for Stability, Justice, and Healthcare Protection

While the administration may perceive chaos as a strategic tool, the real-world consequences of its actions are borne by people in the United States and around the globe who deserve stability, justice, and access to quality healthcare. We call upon Congress to serve as a check on this overreach and the federal government to reconsider these detrimental policies and instead listen to the people. Uphold the rights and well-being of all individuals and ensure public health is protected. We remain united as ever in advocating for the protection of MNA nurses and healthcare professionals, our patients, and the integrity of our healthcare system.

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Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 25,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

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SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association