Recent news and opportunities for action regarding the federal policy landscape, impacting children in Massachusetts and across the country. Visit our Federal Advocacy page for more information about key issues that CLM regularly tracks.
Action Opportunities
- Organizational Sign-On: Urge Congress to Cosponsor Upcoming Bill Repealing Recent SNAP Cuts – Deadline extended!
Immigration/Unaccompanied Youth
A recent lawsuit highlights efforts by legal aid groups to prevent the deportation of unaccompanied Honduran children. This action underscores ongoing concerns about the treatment of immigrant youth and the importance of legal protections for vulnerable children.
- Legal aid group sues to preemptively block US from deporting a dozen Honduran children (Boston Globe, 9/6)
A federal judge has stopped the U.S. government from sending several Guatemalan minors back to their home country. The children, ages 10 to 17, are now guaranteed full immigration proceedings while the court reviews a lawsuit claiming their rights were violated. The ruling ensures these youth are protected from removal without proper legal review.
Health Policy / Administration Strategies
In early September, the Trump Administration released a "Make Our Children Healthy Again" strategy framework. The framework proposes to look at issues such as root causes of autism and the use of chemicals in farming. The framework also seems to conflict with recent cuts to funding, such as for making local farm produce available to schools and to SNAP recipients.
- Trump administration releases health strategy RFK Jr. has ‘been dreaming about.’ Here are the key takeaways. (Boston Globe)
- Make America Healthy Again (U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services)
COVID-19 Vaccines
Governor Maura Healey took steps to ensure COVID-19 vaccines remain available and covered by insurance in Massachusetts. Other states are forming regional collectives to help set vaccine policy that will help ensure continued use of scientific evidence for public health, as an alternative to the CDC.
- Standing Order for Dispensing and Administration of COVID-19 vaccine: 2025-2026 (Mass.gov)
- As national consensus on vaccines unravels, Mass. and other states chart disparate paths (Boston Globe)
Child Welfare / Social Services
A preliminary injunction has paused the enforcement of a new PRWORA interpretation, impacting how child welfare and related social services are administered. This decision provides an important pause to ensure policies support children and families appropriately.
The recently issued Executive Order on homelessness links homelessness with crime and public safety concerns. Advocates warn that this framing could lead to harmful federal policy responses and overlook the needs of children and families experiencing housing instability.
- Understanding Trump’s Executive Order on Homelessness (National Alliance to End Homelessness)
Agency Priorities / Strategic Updates
The Administration updated several health and human services overview pages to reflect the Administration's priorities. These align with other policy efforts.