A concerning pattern of federal policy shifts and budget proposals is casting a shadow over essential services that support Minot’s most vulnerable residents — our elderly neighbors, individuals with disabilities and families struggling with poverty. These are not abstract debates unfolding in distant Washington; they are changes with profound, real-world consequences for people in our community.

Many of these proposed and emerging policies align with plans detailed in initiatives such as Project 2025, a comprehensive blueprint for restructuring the federal government. Regardless of their origin, the tangible effects of these shifts on crucial support systems demand our community’s urgent attention.

The recent news that 23 employees at the North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities (NDCPD) at Minot State University are being laid off — with some already having lost their jobs — is a stark local example of this broader trend. These job losses, attributed to federal funding changes and new policy directions, show how decisions made in Washington directly affect the availability of services for our most vulnerable neighbors.

For decades, the NDCPD has been a cornerstone of support for individuals and families across North Dakota. As the state’s University Center of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, its mission translates into a wide array of essential programs: the ASTEP program for inclusive higher education, training for direct support professionals, health care navigation assistance and support for individuals transitioning from other types of care. Now, funding uncertainties threaten many of these services — including early interventions like childhood hearing screenings — raising alarms about the future of support for people across the lifespan.

On May 15, the ASTEP program held its graduation ceremony, celebrating five students who completed the program. These graduates now enter the world better prepared to contribute and thrive — an inspiring testament to the life-changing value of inclusive education. Yet even as we honor their achievements, the program that helped shape their futures faces an uncertain one of its own.

The human impact is real. Kyle Erickson, a research associate at NDCPD who has cerebral palsy, said the services offered “make it a little bit easier” to navigate a world not always built for people with disabilities. With funding for many programs “being paused — or soon may be completely ending,” as MSU President Steven Shirley said, the lifelines that Erickson and others depend on are increasingly at risk.

The challenges faced by NDCPD reflect a wider reevaluation of federal support for vital human services. Proposed changes extend to the Administration for Community Living, a key funder of services like Meals on Wheels. Discussions surrounding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, often framed in terms of “flexibility,” raise concerns among advocates about the erosion of protections for students with disabilities. Cuts to housing support through the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and changes to nutrition programs such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, could further strain families already struggling to meet basic needs.

Adding another layer of pressure is the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE — an initiative focused on reducing costs. Actions such as freezing health care grants and altering the management of federal funding opportunities have created instability for service providers. NDCPD Director Lori Garnes described the resulting “storm clouds of uncertainty,” noting that disrupted communication with federal agencies hampers long-term planning and threatens the center’s ability to retain staff and sustain services.

Further compounding these concerns are proposed sweeping changes to Medicaid, reportedly included in legislative frameworks like the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Provisions include nationwide work requirements, increased cost-sharing and deep cuts to federal spending on the program. In North Dakota — where roughly one in seven residents rely on Medicaid — such changes could have serious consequences. Access to health care for seniors, children, working families and people with disabilities could be jeopardized, along with the financial viability of rural hospitals and clinics.

The loss of 23 jobs at NDCPD is more than a local workforce issue. It signals a diminished capacity to serve those who rely on developmental programs, education and critical support services. As federal policies continue to evolve, our community must recognize their real-world impact and advocate for the support systems that ensure a better quality of life for all. The well-being of Minot — and of those who depend on these essential services — hangs in the balance.