Since his inauguration on Jan. 20, 2025, Trump has issued at least 128 executive actions, aiming to dismantle federal organizations, slash the budget and disrupt staffing. From threatening the National Institutes of Health (NIH), jeopardizing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, denying the identities of transgender and other genderqueer folks and curtailing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the executive branch is enforcing sweeping systematic changes under the guise of “efficiency.”
As current college students, Midd Kids are uniquely situated to face the consequences of the Trump administration and its policies. As we will graduate from Middlebury while Trump remains in office, most of us will develop our professional and personal lives under his authority. Simultaneously, we are the next generation of voters, advocates and leaders, placing us in a crucial position to influence the future of our country. We must rely on our Middlebury education to prepare us for these realities. Middlebury’s mission is to “inspire our undergraduates to grapple with challenging questions about themselves and the world, but we also foster the inquiry, equity, and agency necessary for them to practice ethical citizenship at home and far beyond our Vermont campus.” The world, and the U.S., is full of challenging questions and we as students are empowered to use our experience at Middlebury to influence the future political climate.
As an organization focused on teaching science-backed research and advocating for healthcare access through a sex-positive lens, SPECS is obliged to link the implications of today’s challenges to the future of sexual health and gender expression. While many expected reproductive justice, including abortion access and bodily autonomy, to be contested under the Trump administration, additional unprecedented moves by the Trump administration will further impact sexual healthcare and rights on a local and global scale.
Middlebury emphasizes the power of inquiry, fostering an appreciation for investigation amongst its students. The NIH is a pioneer organization responsible for U.S. medical research, endorsing studies ranging from cancer treatment to behavioral disorders to infectious diseases, all of which intersect with sexual health. On Feb. 7, 2025 the NIH announced that it would reduce funding for “overhead costs” — like maintaining facilities and equipment — by 85%. Trump claimed this would channel finances directly to research initiatives, but statistics indicate otherwise. Universities and hospitals depend on this funding for 40–75% of their indirect costs.
The overhaul of the NIH, in addition to other federal health organizations, will impact Vermont, including Middlebury. While federal courts temporarily halted cuts to the NIH, other key federal organizations remain on the brink of elimination, raising major warning signs. It is imperative that funding to institutions such as the NIH is protected since groundbreaking research relies on its support. For instance, a 2023 project from the University of California San Francisco and the University of Washington discovered the novel utility of antibiotics like doxycycline that can prevent the contraction of bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), such as gonorrhea and chlamydia, after exposure. If our nation fails to recognize the value of inquiry, our health will face the consequences.
Middlebury’s mission is founded on principles of equity and agency, acknowledging the diverse needs of students, celebrating the community’s range of identities and emphasizing students’ autonomy in self-expression. In juxtaposition, Trump regularly attacks DEI initiatives promoting equitable access and representation throughout the branches of federal government. In a recent executive order, Trump claimed that DEI “forced illegal and immoral discrimination programs.” The policies that Trump argues are “immoral” are fundamental protections that ensure equity, and without them, historically marginalized groups will continue to face barriers to education and employment.
Relatedly, another executive order issued by Trump aims to “defend women from gender ideology extremism and restore biological truth to the federal government.” This action erases the recognition of transgender, intersex and genderqueer people from the American public. This is a hate-driven measure that does not promote dignity, safety or well-being, the very values he claims to be protecting. Middlebury clearly affirms students’ agency by celebrating freedom of choice and gender diversity, a commitment lacking on the federal level.
Middlebury prioritizes global awareness and leadership by ensuring its students are ethical citizens. Currently, U.S. global relations are tumultuous. Trump claimed that the U.S foreign aid industry does not align with American interests. A prominent organization impacted by this directive is USAID, an agency that focuses on supporting countries affected by disaster, political upheaval or economic instability. USAID facilitates crucial programs that promote worldwide sexual and reproductive health, especially family planning, reduction of female genital mutilation and gender-based violence and HIV and AIDS prevention. USAID family planning programs have increased contraceptive access for more than 47.6 million women worldwide, promoting female bodily autonomy.
The Guttmacher Institute estimates that during Trump’s 90-day funding freeze, there will be 4.2 million unintended pregnancies and 8,340 maternal deaths. Trump’s decision to eradicate USAID programs leaves millions without access to basic healthcare. These are fundamental human rights and in no way “antithetical to American values.”
Now the question arises: How do we proceed? The final line of Middlebury’s mission statement prompts us to be ethical citizens “far beyond our Vermont campus.” Consider Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin’s rebuttal to Trump’s 2025 address before a joint session of Congress, where she urged people to recognize Trump’s threats to democracy. She reminded the country of historical instabilities, affirming that engaged citizens and principled leaders have gotten us through these difficult moments. Slotkin stressed the impact of commitment, accountability and organization, concluding that the most important historical movements started from the bottom up.
If there is ever a time to learn, act and speak up, it is now. At SPECS, our commitment to the Middlebury student body holds steadfast. We will continue to advocate for universal human rights and education, using our position to empower Midd Kids with knowledge and support. This moment demands bold reflection on how these shifts will shape our lives and influence the global landscape and a renewed commitment to championing our core principles.
