When Policy Ain’t for Us: The Reality Behind Trump’s So-Called “Pro-Family” Agenda

In a time when political noise is louder than ever, one thing remains clear: the policies being pushed from the top are not built for the wellbeing of everyday people especially Black families, working-class communities, and creatives trying to thrive inside a rigged system. While headlines showcase a $5,000 "baby bonus" aimed at encouraging women to have more children, beneath the surface lies a coordinated attack on the very systems that help raise and support those children.

This is not accidental. It’s strategic. It’s systemic. And it demands our attention.

The Disguised Collapse of Support Structures

In early 2025, the Trump administration fired 17 inspectors general across multiple federal agencies—individuals responsible for maintaining oversight and accountability in government. This was followed by Executive Order 14151, which eradicated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in key federal institutions, including the Department of Education and the military.

Independent agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), long known for their checks and balances, were placed under the direct control of the White House. Meanwhile, Voice of America a longstanding public media institution faced a complete shutdown, only blocked by judicial intervention.

Then came the dismantling of USAID (United States Agency for International Development), leaving devastating consequences in countries that depend on American aid for healthcare, education, and food programs. The IRS, facing high turnover and politically driven threats, descended into disarray.

On Day One of his second term, Trump created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. Its core mission? Slashing regulations and laying off federal workers. Under DOGE, vital entities like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were weakened significantly.

These changes are not temporary. They are deep, calculated restructurings that, if left unchallenged, will have effects lasting well beyond any one term in office.

What This Policy Means for the Future of Democracy

To understand the depth of the current moment, it's essential to look at how these changes impact democracy, particularly for marginalized communities:

• Democracy is being reshaped. Mass firings of watchdogs, the removal of DEI structures, and aggressive voter suppression efforts signify a shift toward unchecked executive power.

• The poor and marginalized suffer first. Cuts to public health, housing, food assistance, and education disproportionately impact Black communities, Indigenous groups, and low-income families.

• Trust in institutions is plummeting. When federal agencies are overtaken or weaponized, people lose faith in their reliability. Confusion replaces clarity, which serves those in power.

• The system is being rewritten. These aren’t short-term setbacks. They are part of a long-term effort to reshape American governance into a more authoritarian model.

The Baby Bonus Distraction: What They Don’t Want You to See

The administration's offer of a $5,000 "baby bonus" may sound generous, but it masks a larger issue: the removal of the very programs families need to raise children.

What’s Being Cut:

• Head Start: A program offering early education, healthcare, and meals to children in low-income families, now at risk of losing service for over 730,000 children.

• Autism Research and Services: Significantly defunded, jeopardizing developmental support for children who need specialized care.

• Reproductive Healthcare and Public Education: Consistently defunded under new policies.

• Affordable Housing and SNAP Benefits: Facing severe budget restrictions and eligibility tightening.

So the government wants families to grow, but without offering:

• Paid family leave

• Universal healthcare

• Affordable childcare

• Stable housing support

That’s not family-first governance. That’s control masked as care.

A Disturbing Historical Echo: From 1930s Germany to 2020s America

The idea of incentivizing childbirth while stripping support structures is not new. It mirrors policies seen in fascist regimes of the past, including 1930s Germany, where the state promoted childbirth among "preferred" groups while removing rights and access from others.

Common traits include:

• State control over reproduction and family planning

• Propaganda campaigns promoting nationalism and traditionalism

• Mass censorship and control of educational and cultural institutions

• Demonization of marginalized communities

Sound familiar?

When public education, healthcare, and housing support are rolled back while reproductive freedom is curtailed, the goal becomes clear: increased control over the population, especially those deemed less "valuable" in the political hierarchy.

The Real Cost to Black Families

For Black families, these policies are especially damaging. Generations have fought for access to fair housing, quality education, and bodily autonomy. Now, the very structures created from those fights are being erased.

• Black mothers are expected to raise children without affordable healthcare or maternal support.

• Black students are left behind in underfunded schools, often subjected to surveillance over safety.

• Black creatives and small business owners are cut off from federal funding streams that once supported entrepreneurial growth.

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Meanwhile, systemic racism is being ignored, rebranded, or outright denied in public policy.

So Where Do We Go From Here?

Fear is valid, but fear is also fuel. When systems collapse, communities build. That’s been our history.

Here are tangible ways forward:

1. Engage in Local Politics: School boards, city councils, zoning commissions—these entities shape everyday life. They deserve your voice and your vote.

2. Invest in Mutual Aid Networks: Share resources like food, childcare, and transportation with neighbors. Build structures that exist outside the government.

3. Support Black-Owned Businesses and Collectives: Economic power is political power. Our dollars can build what they try to erase.

4. Use Your Platform to Inform and Organize: Whether it’s a blog, YouTube channel, or IG page—educate your community. Keep them sharp and ready.

5. Rest and Protect Your Energy: Revolution is not just marches. It’s also staying well, whole, and grounded. Keep your spirit fed.

   
   

The Responsibility of Media and Culture Creators

Now more than ever, artists, writers, journalists, and digital storytellers have a role in countering political lies. Platforms like Obsidian People are essential in documenting not just what is happening, but how it feels—how it lands on our bodies, our families, and our future.

We don’t just need facts. We need context. We need truth-telling that doesn’t ask for permission.

Let this piece serve as both documentation and a call to action. If you have a voice, use it. If you have a platform, share it. If you have knowledge, teach it.

My Thoughts

This moment in history is not new, but it is dangerous. We’re watching a slow, strategic attempt to control public life through propaganda, policy, and fear. But we are not powerless.

Black families, marginalized communities, and creatives are not just survivors. We are builders. And when the government stops serving us, we serve each other.

They may be coming for power, but we are coming with people.

Stay ready.