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To contact me, please click here: Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov
Hello Friends,
As our trees trade green for gold, lawmakers are trading quiet afternoons for busy committee hearings and updates from the courts. Read on for a recap of September’s Legislative Day committee hearings which were focused on the impact of federal funding cuts and policy changes; updates on Oregon’s fight to block Trump’s National Guard deployment; and efforts to protect health care access in Lane County.
At the end of September, Oregon lawmakers returned to Salem to dig into what Trump’s federal budget cuts will mean for Oregonians—and the picture isn’t pretty. We heard from experts about how these changes threaten programs Oregonians rely on every day. From health care and food assistance to education, clean energy, emergency preparedness, and consumer protections, these cuts put families, workers, and communities at risk. Here’s a closer look at what we learned:
Health Care
Trump’s budget and changes to Medicaid could push up to 200,000 Oregonians off the Oregon Health Plan, drive up private insurance premiums by $90–$165 per month (Oregon Health Authority slide 17), and force rural hospitals and community clinics to cut services or close (Northwest Human Services/OPCA memo). Cancer and chronic-illness patients are especially vulnerable, as they may lose treatment mid-course if they cannot keep up with reporting requirements. These changes will strain Oregon’s health care safety net, especially in rural areas where clinics are already operating on tight budgets.
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Food and Human Services
Federal food assistance cuts will affect 310,000 Oregonians, with 29,000 households losing an average of $58 per month (Oregon Department of Human Services slide 10). Nearly 3,000 legally present immigrants, including refugees and asylees, could lose eligibility altogether. Beginning in 2026, Oregon will also be required to pay a larger share of food assistance costs, creating new pressures on the state budget and forcing counties and service providers to find ways to fill the gaps.
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Education
Cuts to student loans and federal aid threaten Head Start teachers, social workers, behavioral health providers, and other essential public service careers (National Conference of State Legislatures slide 9). Nationally, $284 billion in federal student aid could be eliminated (National Conference of State Legislatures slides 2, 10), forcing borrowers into more expensive repayment plans. In addition, reductions to food assistance and Medicaid threaten free school meals and early learning services that help children start school healthy and ready to learn. These combined impacts could limit opportunities for students, educators, and families across Oregon.
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Labor and Workforce Development
New federal rules weaken protections for farmworkers, construction crews, and apprenticeships (Legislative Policy and Research Office memo, pages 3, 6–10). Proposed rollbacks to workplace safety oversight and requirements put workers at greater risk and could discourage people from claiming unemployment benefits. Programs that support workforce development, anti-harassment training, and non-discrimination protections in apprenticeship programs are also at risk, making it harder for women, veterans, and people of color to access good jobs and training opportunities.
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Climate, Energy, and Environment
Ending federal solar and battery tax credits will raise household energy bills by $100–$140 per year, eliminate thousands of clean energy jobs, and slow Oregon’s transition to clean power (Oregon Department of Energy slides 5–6, 10; Greg Dotson slide 11). Low-income and rural households are hit hardest, while federal rollbacks stall wind and solar permitting and block Oregon from enforcing zero-emission vehicle rules. These changes make it harder to meet state climate goals, increase costs for families, and put Oregon’s clean energy industry at risk.
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Emergency Management
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Cuts to disaster mitigation and emergency management funding threaten county readiness, squeeze already thin budgets, and increase local costs for wildfire, earthquake, and flood recovery (Association of Oregon Counties slide 3). Programs like Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Emergency Management Performance Grants, which counties rely on for disaster planning and mitigation, have been reduced or delayed, leaving communities less prepared for emergencies.
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Consumer Protection
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Cuts to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau leave Oregonians more exposed to scams, predatory lenders, and slower responses when trying to recover money (Oregon Division of Financial Regulation slide 4). With fewer staff and less oversight, aging adults and vulnerable families are at higher risk of losing money to unfair or deceptive financial practices.
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Summary
These hearings painted a clear picture: Trump’s federal policies are putting Oregon families, workers, and communities at serious risk. Understanding these impacts helps state leaders plan, respond to, and advocate for the protections Oregonians rely on every day.
If you’d like to read a more comprehensive summary of what was presented in seven House committees, check out this press release. If you’d like to dive deeper, you can watch recordings of hearings and review all meeting materials on the Oregon Legislative Information System for each day of hearings: Sept. 29, Sept. 30, and Oct. 1.
On September 28th, Secretary Hegseth issued an order that federalized 200 Oregon National Guard troops and deployed them to Portland for up to 60 days, for the stated purpose of protecting federal personnel and buildings in the city, including an ICE facility. Within hours, Oregon and the City of Portland filed suit in federal court, challenging the action and seeking a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) to halt the deployment.
After a hearing on Friday, October 3, the judge granted the TRO the next day, writing in her opinion: “This is a nation of Constitutional law, not martial law. [The Trump administration has] made a range of arguments that, if accepted, risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power—to the detriment of this nation.” The judge’s opinion is well worth reading–it is well-reasoned and written with a clear view to the historical importance of what the Trump administration is trying to do. As the judge said, the case “goes to the heart of what it means to live under the rule of law in the United States.”
When reports emerged shortly thereafter, that California Guard troops were being sent to Oregon, the state quickly amended its lawsuit and sought another, broader TRO. A hearing was scheduled for the evening of Sunday, October 5th. Just before the hearing, Secretary Hegseth federalized 400 Texas Guard troops to deploy them to Chicago and Portland. That night, the court granted the second TRO, blocking any federalized Guard troops, from any state or DC, from being sent to Oregon.
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On October 9th, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit heard oral arguments on the federal government’s motion to stay our first Temporary Restraining Order (related only to the Oregon National Guard). We expect the court to issue a ruling sometime within the next week—if the first TRO is stayed, it is likely that the members of the Oregon National Guard would be allowed to deploy in Portland, but the TRO as applied to other states (CA and TX) would still be in place. But much depends on how expansive any order the court issues is.
I’m grateful to Governor Tina Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield for their swift and steadfast leadership in defending Oregon. Gov. Kotek has led the state with calm determination during the upheaval, and AG Rayfield’s legal team’s preparation and quick action have been essential to protecting Oregon’s National Guard, our communities, and the rule of law.
I’m also proud of how Oregonians have overwhelmingly shown up peacefully, calmly, and united against Trump’s unnecessary federal overreach, and I know they will continue to do so. Our neighbors are not combatants; our communities are not military training grounds. Oregon is our home, not a military target. More than being on the wrong side of the law, Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Oregon is on the wrong side of history.
Late last month, you may have seen startling news that PacificSource, our community's largest provider of healthcare for patients on Medicaid and the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), announced that it will not be renewing its contract as a Community Care Organization (CCO) in Lane County. This was an extremely disappointing step for PacificSource to take, after serving our community for over 5 years. And I know it’s very concerning to community members, particularly given the other healthcare setbacks our community has experienced over the last few years.
Over the last few weeks, I have been in active discussions with the Oregon Health Authority and the County about how we got here and next steps. Here’s what I’ve learned to date:
- OHA received formal notice that PacificSource made a business decision not to renew its current contract as a CCO in Lane County in 2026.
- There is a process for ensuring CCO coverage for Lane County next year, and OHA will be working through those steps in the coming months.
- First, Oregon law requires OHA to determine whether a single coordinated care organization is able to serve the region. If so, members would be directed to that CCO — in Lane County’s case, that is Trillium, the other CCO currently operating in our county.
- If the OHA decides that two CCOs are needed, they will open a contracting process to secure a new CCO, and it’s possible that PacificSource could reapply to continue service in Lane County.
- As part of the current contract, PacificSource is required to provide services during the process of locating another network provider. OHA also has the authority to have PacificSource provide 90 days of coverage after the completion of the close-out plan (to extend coverage into 2026).
- OHA's goal is to minimize member disruption, provide clear communication to Lane County providers and impacted members, and ensure that any provider has a robust network to serve all Medicaid members in Lane County.
I want my constituents to know that there will be no immediate changes to benefits for providers, community members, or OHP members. Please know that I’m committed to doing everything in my power to reduce the impact on health care providers and to make sure access to care is uninterrupted and protected for Lane County residents who rely on Medicare and the Oregon Health Plan.
I join my House and Senate colleagues in mourning the passing of Representative Hòa Nguyễn, a dedicated leader, a passionate champion for students, and a beloved colleague and friend.
As the eldest daughter of Vietnamese refugees and a longtime educator, Rep. Nguyễn carried her family’s story into her work, always centering the voices of children, educators, and immigrant and refugee families.
Her unwavering focus on education equity defined her legislative service. Rep. Nguyễn’s signature issue of her final legislative session was chronic absenteeism in Oregon schools, a critically important element of student success. Her bill passed the House unanimously—a testament to both Rep. Nguyễn’s collaborative spirit and the respect all members of this legislative body had for her.
Rep. Nguyễn embodied the best of public service: fierce in her advocacy, compassionate in her approach, and steadfast in her belief in the power of community. Her legacy will live on in this chamber and in every classroom she fought so hard to support.
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Whether in session or out, I encourage you to stay engaged and reach out for assistance navigating state government or to share your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you.
Yours truly,
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1414
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-271, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/fahey
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