Study Shows Disproportionate Impact of 2025 Federal DOGE Budget Cuts on Communities of Color
The report highlights the loss of critical programs in education, healthcare, and environmental justice, with case studies from the Bronx (NY), Riviera Beach (FL), and Watts (CA). The brief calls for immediate state-led action and support from philanthropic and corporate partners to address the harm.
- (1888PressRelease) April 19, 2025 - New York, NY — The Think Tank at The Thinkubator has released a compelling new policy brief titled Disinvestment in Equity: The Disproportionate Impact of 2025 Federal DOGE Cuts on Communities of Color. The report examines the sweeping federal budget reductions enacted through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and how these cuts have dismantled critical education, healthcare, and environmental programs, particularly in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods.
Led by youth scholars and academic researchers, the brief draws on case studies from the Bronx (NY), Riviera Beach (FL), and Watts (CA) to document the real-world impact of the Trump administration’s austerity policies on vulnerable communities. “The Trump economy has disproportionately impacted communities of color and youth,” said Desiree Herrington, CEO and Board Chair of The Thinkubator. “We are extremely hopeful that states, local governments, and philanthropic communities will stand with the people and take immediate action.”
The policy brief includes stark data visualizations, synthesized academic research, and five bold recommendations aimed at state-level policymakers, foundations, and corporate partners. With the federal administrative state stripped of its core capacity to protect the public, the brief argues that the burden of equitable recovery now rests with state governments and allied sectors.
“Our findings are devastating,” said Tay Jay Gonzales, The Think Tank’s Policy Youth Scholar. “When I saw the impact of DOGE on communities of color, I was highly offended. I want to educate my generation on how these decisions are not just numbers on a page. They affect schools, clinics, and even our access to clean air. This is a call to action for young people like me.”
The report concludes with a direct appeal for voter engagement and a rebuke of federal inaction.
“States need to respond to the inequitable impact of the DOGE cuts,” said Dr. Edward Summers, Director of The Think Tank. “Voters need to take to the polls in the upcoming elections to have their voices heard. The future of our communities depends on it.”
The full policy brief is available at https://dredward-summers.com/the-think-tank and will be distributed to local, state, and national leaders, advocacy coalitions, and philanthropic organizations across the country.
More about The Thinkubator:
The Thinkubator is a New York based innovation and research nonprofit dedicated to building pathways to economic opportunity and civic empowerment for youth and communities of color. Its Think Tank produces research, policy analysis, and youth-led inquiry on equity and public accountability.
More about The Think Tank at The Thinkubator:
The Think Tank at The Thinkubator was originally launched at The Thinkubator, a New York–based nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth voice through research, analysis, and policy. Founded by a group of committed scholars and researchers, The Think Tank began as a hub for rigorous academic, scholarly, and professional research that documented and evaluated The Thinkubator’s activities and explored the Bronx and New York City as a contested urban form.
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