As President Donald Trump prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, Americans are looking for solutions to their biggest concerns: rising costs, their health and the health of their families, and the safety of their communities.
The Trump administration has abandoned the majority of Americans, prioritizing the wealthiest few while sowing chaos and division in our communities. That’s why the Center for American Progress has developed concrete, forward-looking policy solutions designed to address the issues that shape our daily lives.
Below is essential reading to understand what’s at stake.
Jobs and affordability
Americans continue to feel squeezed by high prices and economic uncertainty, and the Trump administration’s policies have compounded the pressure. The “Big Beautiful Bill” gave tax cuts to corporations and the ultrawealthy while making it harder for working families to get by. At the same time, Trump’s destructive tariff policies have contributed to higher costs for everyday essentials, from groceries to housing. This saw the average family paying $1,200 in tariff costs last year.
From expanding the housing supply to lowering grocery costs, CAP’s forward-looking agenda focuses on practical steps to bring down prices and increase wages.
The Trump administration has doubled down on a reckless immigration agenda that threatens the civil liberties of every American. Expanded deportation efforts, new unaccountable funding streams, and ICE and CBP officers operating recklessly without clear identification have fueled fear and eroded public trust. Communities deserve effective public safety strategies that actually reduce crime and strengthen trust between law enforcement and the communities in which they serve—not policies that prioritize spectacle over results and needlessly endanger community members.
We can safeguard national security, enhance public safety and rebuild trust between communities and the institutions meant to protect them without the cruelty and theatrics the Trump administration have forced upon city after city.
While the Trump administration claims it wants to “Make America Healthy Again,” its policies are doing the opposite. The Big Beautiful Bill’s Medicaid cuts take health care away from millions of Americans, with life-and-death consequences in communities across the country. Making matters worse, Congressional Republicans’ refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits has doubled insurance premiums for millions of Americans, especially for small-business owners and middle-class families.
Cuts to research for cancer, Alzheimer’s, and heart disease; slashing programs that prevent asthma attacks, developmental delays, and measles; and halting efforts to promote healthy pregnancies and births have also undercut effective strategies to prevent chronic diseases. Meanwhile, the administration’s alignment with Big Oil, Gas, Chemical, and Big Wellness industry interests is weakening lifesaving public health protections and increasing exposure to harmful chemicals, toxins, and infectious diseases.
The State of the Union is an opportunity for the president to outline a vision for the country. But it is also a moment for accountability.
President Trump will undoubtedly tout that America is stronger than ever. But strength doesn’t look like rising grocery bills, higher utility costs, and housing slipping further out of reach. Americans deserve a clear-eyed assessment of how the Trump administration’s policies are affecting their lives—and a serious conversation about alternatives.
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Follow CAP President and CEO Neera Tanden on Twitter, along with CAP staff on Twitter and our Bluesky starter pack of CAP experts, to hear from trusted thought leaders fact-checking the president during his address to Congress.
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