WARWICK, RI – Following a roundtable discussion with the leadership of Rhode Island’s seven community action programs (CAPs), U.S. Senator Jack Reed today addressed the Trump Administration’s mass-layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and other cuts that will impact Rhode Island and put at risk child care and preschool programs, home heating assistance, and other essential services.

Rhode Island’s seven CAPs collectively serve more than 190,000 Rhode Islanders and help connect low-income individuals and families to health care, job training and skills building, energy assistance, affordable housing, and much more.

Senator Reed joined Paul Salera, President & CEO of Westbay Community Action, at Westbay’s location in Warwick to detail how these cuts could decimate services and support for vulnerable Rhode Islanders and how uncertainty stemming from Trump Administration actions is impacting community organizations across the state.

“As the Trump Administration plows ahead with erratic, misguided cuts and no analysis whatsoever on impacts to our communities, I met with leaders on the ground here in Rhode Island to get their feedback, hear their concerns, and discuss how we can work together to continue uplifting our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Senator Reed.  “The leaders I met with today know better than almost anyone how programs like the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Head Start, the Administration for Community Living, and other critical supports strengthen our communities and help Rhode Islanders stay healthy, safe, and productive.  Eliminating the key staff who help Rhode Islanders and slashing funding just to give massive tax giveaways to a small group of billionaires will likely end up costing taxpayers much more in the long run and shifts increasing tax burdens onto our state and local communities.”

Paul Salera, President & CEO of Westbay Community Action, said, “The Rhode Island Community Action Agencies are grateful to Senator Reed and his team for this opportunity to shed some light on all the Administration’s proposed cuts and what this will mean to the more than 190,000 Rhode Islanders we all serve.  It is a breath of fresh air knowing that Senator Reed is fighting for all of us to ensure that the much needed Safety Net programs stay intact for the most vulnerable in Rhode Island.”

Last week, the Trump Administration moved forward with its plans to cut 20,000 federal employees at HHS. According to CBS News, Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. estimated that about 1 in every 5 of the employees who were fired at HHS were mistakenly let go.

Rhode Island’s seven community action programs are: Westbay Community Action; Community Action Partnership of Providence; Tri-County Community Action; Blackstone Valley Community Action; Community Care Alliance; East Bay Community Action; and Comprehensive Community Action.