Sun Apr 27 13:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump Administration Dismantles Agency Overseeing Disability Services, Sparking Fears for Vulnerable Americans

**Washington, D.C.** – The Trump administration’s restructuring of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is raising serious concerns for millions of older Americans and people with disabilities. The Administration for Community Living (ACL), a small but vital agency overseeing programs like Meals on Wheels, is being dismantled, resulting in widespread layoffs and the closure of all ten regional offices.

This action, part of a broader effort to eliminate what the administration terms “illegal and immoral discrimination programs,” has left vulnerable individuals like 77-year-old Maurine Gentis, a wheelchair-bound Meals on Wheels recipient, feeling anxious about the future. Gentis relies on the program not only for food but also for regular check-ins, highlighting the social support these services provide.

The ACL’s downsizing, including the loss of roughly half its staff, follows an executive order aimed at reducing federal efforts to improve accessibility and representation for people with disabilities. This has resulted in the halting of certain research studies and the termination of numerous government employees specializing in disability issues.

While some federal funding may continue until the end of the fiscal year in September, uncertainty remains about the long-term fate of these critical programs. Several groups are already reporting delays in receiving expected federal funds. The dismantling of the ACL underscores the significant impact of the administration’s budget cuts on the most vulnerable members of society.

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