Trump Government's Assault on DEI Endangers Wellbeing for All
Revised Article:
The Trump administration's crusade against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives leaves public health experts shivering about the future of healthcare in America. Since he took office in early 2017, Trump's done away with key health advisory committees, such as the Health Equity Advisory Committee for Medicare and Medicaid Services. So much so that words like "health disparity", "inclusion", "health equity" and "inclusion" are being purged from federal databases, research, and websites. Hell, even research projects that use those words might get the axe, too.
Trashing DEI ain't just a slap in the face to racial or minority groups—it's a punch to the gut for healthcare across the board. Here's the skinny on why.
Fact remains that certain groups face some fucked-up health outcomes compared to White Americans. For instance, black women are a staggering 40% more likely to croak from breast cancer than white women. Nearly 17% of Hispanics are uninsured, while only 5.3% of non-Hispanic White folks find themselves without coverage.
DEI initiatives don't just cater to racial and ethnic groups— they work hard to help underserved groups, like White Americans living in rural areas, too. These remote, often forgotten locations struggle with a higher death rate (20%) compared to urban ebb and flow, primarily due to chronic diseases like heart failure and cancer. Plus, many rural White dwellers are less likely to take advantage of screening tests for key cancers, which can result in delayed diagnoses, early disabilities, and even death.
Slashing funding for DEI programs won't just be a kick in the teeth for minorities in America—it'll have a profound and devastating effect on White rural residents, too. Approximately 35 million White Americans hail from rural areas, according to the University of New Hampshire's Carsey School of Public Policy.
Want another good reason why DEI matters? Consider the impact on infectious diseases that know no borders and spread easily through travel and close contact. When NIH funding for research or services gets slashed for projects examining health disparities for diseases like HIV or TB, it ain't just the health of racial minorities or underserved populations that's at stake. Less greenbacks mean fewer resources and preventive measures to curb the spread of these diseases. Translation: more people will get infected with these diseases, with the potential to afflict all citizens, including White urban dwellers. Healthcare and infectious diseases don't operate in a vacuum.
Lastly, let's discuss DEI's role in medical education and the medical workforce. By nixing funding for medical schools and programs that champion DEI, we could see a lower number of non-white doctors graduating. This also means reduced funding for medical facilities and clinics in rural areas and low-income neighborhoods. Sounds fun? Nah, it means continued barriers for many Americans, including low-income White folks and those residing in rural areas, facing issues with filling prescriptions, getting test studies, and visiting their primary doc.
Make no mistake, the crackdown on DEI's more than meets the eye. Dismantling these programs only means health disparities will be on the rise, not just for racial minorities but for pretty much every American. Healthcare should aim to improve health outcomes for all people and never pander to political agendas blind to systemic inequities that have been prevalent in America.
- The Trump administration's decision to abolish the Health Equity Advisory Committee for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which was designed to address health disparities, is a likely setback for the preventive measures aimed at curbing health disparities in America.
- The Trump administration's termination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives might lead to an increase in health disparities, affecting not only racial and ethnic minorities but also White Americans living in rural areas who are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases due to limited access to preventive care.
- The reduction of funds for research examining health disparities for infectious diseases like HIV or TB could lead to less resources and preventive measures for curbing the spread of these diseases, potentially causing an increased risk for urban White dwellers as well.
