[[link removed]] Ms. Memo: This Week in Women's Rights
January 14, 2026
From the ongoing fight for abortion rights and access, to elections, to the drive for the Equal Rights Amendment, there are a multitude of battles to keep up with. In this weekly roundup, find the absolute need-to-know news for feminists.
Social Services Cuts Will Mean More Women Stop Working—and Maybe That’s the Point [[link removed]]
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(Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
By Amy Barasch | The current federal administration is very pro-family—they tell us that all the time. One of JD Vance’s first public appearances as vice president was his speech at the antiabortion March for Life rally in January 2025, where he called for more births in the U.S. and framed his agenda as both “pro-life” and “pro-family.” Trump reaffirmed that position in March, where he reiterated that this was a pro-family administration.
But at the start of this year, on Jan. 6, 2026, alleging concerns about fraud in state-run social services programs (even though the only concerns that have been raised—not proven—are in Minnesota), the Trump-Vance administration’s U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suspended three programs that provide support to children—not only in Minnesota, but also in California, Colorado, New York and Illinois. Those states, all led by Democrats, will lose access to billions in funding through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, the Child Care and Development Fund, and the Social Services Block Grant program. To be clear, these funds are the backbone of services-provision for families living in poverty in most communities, Republicans and Democrats alike.
This announcement comes days after the administration moved to eliminate a rule that had capped childcare copayments for low‑income families at 7 percent of their income.
It also comes after last year’s efforts to eliminate support for Head Start, quality and affordable education and other services for young children living in poverty.
All this from the pro-family party.
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Read more:
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The Cost of Treating Immigration as a War [[link removed]] Junk In, Junk Out: What to Expect From the Senate HELP Committee Hearing on Medication Abortion [[link removed]]
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Predictions for Women’s Health in 2026: A Dark Year, With a Few Bright Spots [[link removed]] Seven Ways the Trump Administration Has Made Pregnancy More Dangerous [[link removed]]
What we're reading:
Because it's hard to keep up with everything going on in the world right now. Here's what we're reading this week:
* "Alliance Defending Freedom’s Cruel History with Conversion Therapy” [[link removed]] — Uncloseted Media [[link removed]]
[link removed] [[link removed]] Tune in for a new episode of Ms. magazine's podcast, On the Issues with Michele Goodwin, at MsMagazine.com, [[link removed]] Apple Podcasts [[link removed]] or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Last year was a harrowing year for many families. The Trump administration’s budget cuts are giving tax breaks to billionaires at the expense of funding healthy meals for students experiencing food insecurity; legislatures are banning books and attacking LGBTQ+ students; and immigration crackdowns are leaving many students afraid to go to school at all. Families have had a lot to be worried about—more than just tests and grades—this year. What are students, parents, and teachers worried about—and what policies are advocates watching?
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