Legislators Failing Disabled Americans Under Trump

Author: Richard Natofsky
Published: 26 Jun 2026
Publication Type: Opinion Piece, Editorial

Contents: Synopsis - Definition - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates - Related Publications

Synopsis: This article is an opinion piece by Richard Natofsky, a person with a hearing disability acquired in infancy, who argues that elected legislators across party lines are failing disabled Americans through silence, partisan loyalty, and deference to a Trump administration actively rolling back protections for the disabled community - from Medicaid and SSI cuts to the elimination of ASL interpreters at federal press briefings and the withdrawal of sub-minimum wage reform.*

At a Glance

• 1 - The Trump administration is considering a rule change that could cut or eliminate monthly SSI benefits for as many as 400,000 poor and disabled people, who currently receive an average payment of $737 per month.
• 2 - Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri, despite having a son with autism, failed to respond to three written requests to oppose Trump administration policies cutting Medicaid, IDEA funding, and autism research.
• 3 - On July 7, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor formally withdrew a Biden-era rule that would have ended sub-minimum wage for disabled workers nationally.

Topic Definition: Legislative Ableism

Legislative ableism refers to the failure of elected officials to adequately represent, protect, or advocate for people with disabilities, whether through silence in the face of discriminatory rhetoric, partisan loyalty that overrides the welfare of disabled constituents, or active support for policies that reduce access to benefits, healthcare, education, and community-based services. Unlike individual acts of prejudice, legislative ableism operates at a systemic level, shaping law and policy in ways that restrict the independence, dignity, and economic security of disabled people. It often manifests not in outright hostility but in inaction - the refusal to speak, the unanswered letter, the bipartisan protection that never comes.

Introduction

A Deplorable Absence of Voice from Our Elected Legislators: When Leadership Fails the Most Vulnerable

We can disagree on policies all day long, but compassion, dignity, and integrity should never be optional. When Donald Trump speaks in a way that mocks people with disabilities, it is inexcusable. Suggesting that someone with a disability is less capable of achieving is extremely ignorant and offensive. And somehow, we are told to disregard it, turn a blind eye, pretend everything is just fine. But it is not. I know that from my life experiences. I am a person with a profound hearing loss which was acquired during infancy. Shame on our legislators for normalizing this vile specimen (Donald Trump) of a human being. Continual silence will only encourage the Trump administration to continue the termination of social and economic programs essential to the disabled community. We must not allow the ongoing rolling back of decades of progress. The time is now to protect the rights of people with disabilities to live in the community. They deserve nothing less.

Main Content

Even with Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt's (Republican) personal experiences with a disabled son, his elected leadership failed the full disabled community. He refused to call out Donald Trump.

I applaud Eric Schmitt's devoted commitment to his son facing the challenges associated with autism. I admire Eric Schmitt's support of health and education programs within his state of Missouri pertaining to people with disabilities.

I asked Eric Schmitt in three separate writings to continue the fight for the disabled population of Missouri and show the same resolve for all others that are impacted by Donald Trump's policy of ableism concerning the distorted perspectives of people with disabilities. No replies were received from the Office of Senator Schmitt.

Program sponsorship's initiated by Eric Schmitt within his home state of Missouri do not offset his unconscionable behavior in supporting all the Trump demands that are selling out autism families all across the country: slashing Medicaid and the ACA, threatening home and community-based services, trashing federal support for K-12 education, including IDEA, eviscerating autism research, and on and on and on.

After Rep. Jasmine Crockett (Democrat) of Texas' 30th District referred to wheelchair bound Governor Greg Abbott of Texas as "governor hot wheels," I questioned Governor Greg Abbott (Republican) once in writing and Representative Randy Weber (Republican) of Texas in three separate writings as to why they did not take a stand against others besides Jasmine Crockett who also demonstrated conduct to be discriminatory in nature.

These others included Donald Trump and members of the Republican party. Greg Abbott chose not to respond to my specific inquiry. Randy Weber answered my three writings but did not address his shameless deference to Donald Trump no matter the circumstances.

It is apparent that partisan loyalty takes precedence over the needs of the disabled. Partisan loyalty translates to denouncing only members of the opposing party.

Filing a censure against a political adversary such as Representative Crockett allows a lawmaker to rally their base, champion their home-state party allies, and draw a sharp contrast with the opposing party. Conversely, addressing criticisms about Donald Trump's past comments regarding disabled individuals breaks party unity, creates negative headlines, and alienates core conservative voters.

It is also obvious that legislative offices of politicians often flag incoming messages that appear as harsh criticisms. If a message cannot be answered with a boilerplate, pre-approved form letter that aligns with the lawmaker's platform, the standard operating procedure is usually to archive the message without a response.

Politicians must take off their partisan hats and object to Donald Trump's disdain of disabled individuals. Legislators have their heads wrapped in Donald Trump's backside and will bend over for him at all costs. As a consequence, the disabled community will continue to be treated unfairly and with malice.

The upcoming agenda is appalling. The Trump administration is considering a rule would cut monthly federal benefits meant to support disabled adults and indigent older people who live with family members. ProPublica first reported on the proposed change based on information from four federal officials, internal emails, and a federal regulatory listing.

The organization analyzed actuarial figures from the Social Security Administration and found that as many as 400,000 poor and disabled people and indigent older people could have their support cut or eliminated. The Supplemental Security Income program, run by the Social Security Administration, provides an average monthly payment of $737 to about 7.4 million people with severe disabilities and to indigent older people as of early 2026, according to the Congressional Research Service.

Furthermore, the so called "The Big Beautiful Bill Act" dramatically reduced Medicaid federal spending. In response, states are likely to decrease home and community-based services that are considered discretionary. The act also cuts spending on safety-net programs that disproportionately serve people with disabilities, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs, Meals on Wheels and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance - harming the ability of people with disabilities to live independently and increasing their risk of homelessness.

Unless legislators and the disabled community push back against the Trump administration, expect more of the same results - legislators will continue to look the other way.

To freshen our memories, Trump mocked the late Senator John McCain's physical limitations resulting from his time as a prisoner of war. He mimicked McCain's inability to raise his arm. Trump has been transparent concerning his disrespect for disabled war veterans.

The record shows that in Trump's eyes, being a disabled war veteran makes a person less worthy and undeserving of being integrated into the larger public. Trump openly ridiculed the stutter of Joe Biden and mocked California Governor Gavin Newsome's dyslexia, calling him dumb and making fun of Newsome's difficulty with reading and spelling.

Trump startlingly stated that watching the Paralympics for people with disabilities was a "little tough to watch too much, but I watched as much as I could."

Donald Trump and his administration stopped providing American Sign Language interpreters (ASL) during press briefings and other public events.

As per the direction of the Trump administration on July 7, 2025, the US Department of Labor formally withdrew its plan for a rule introduced during the Biden administration that would federally end the practice of sub-minimum wage for disabled people. Lastly, it was Donald Trump that told his nephew Fred that severely disabled people, such as Fred's son should die.

Legislators must stop engaging in partisan political competitions. We must consistently condemn the hypocrisy and cowardice of individuals such as Eric Schmitt and Randy Weber. Cry out the deplorable absence of voice from our elected legislators. Our leadership has failed the most vulnerable.

People with disabilities have the potential to live rich and fulfilling lives. Some have proven it. The remainders must be given the opportunity to prove it. However, first others must help to spread that belief. Legislators having power and opportunity are in a great position to do so. Encourage them to stop looking the other way.

About the Author

Richard Natofsky: I am a person with a hearing disability which was acquired during infancy. I lost ninety percent of my hearing in each ear due to a childhood illness and am considered as borderline deaf. I relied on an inner resolve to live an accomplished life, and to deflect the ridicule and discriminatory behavior routinely directed at me while growing up and still to the present day as a fully grown adult. I have written prior articles pertaining to people with disabilities, such as President Trump's Contempt Towards People with Disabilities: An opinion piece examining Trump administration disability policies, including ASL interpreter cuts, wage protections, and benefit reductions affecting millions of Americans.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.