Shutting Down Care: The Hostile Attack on America's Caregivers
- Mark Fukae
- Oct 4
- 3 min read
By Mark Fukae - Director of Advocacy - Professionals Who Care
This Isn't Gridlock - It's Extortion and Reverse Robin Hood on Your Workforce's Healthcare
The federal shutdown is not just political theater. It is calculated policy destruction - a hostile act by those in control that directly compromises workforce stability. When Congress fails to fund the government, it weaponizes the care infrastructure - from telehealth lifelines to federal employee paychecks - as a bargaining chip.
This is extortion of people’s healthcare by those who have no vested interest or need for that very same healthcare. Preying on the most vulnerable is easy for billionaires and legislators who do not rely on these services. When money is shifted away from the care safety net to the already rich, it becomes reverse “Robin Hood” - executed at the expense of the people who need it most.
“My wife’s mother just qualified for Colorado Medicaid -a lifeline for her insulin and basic care. But with the shutdown threatening reimbursements and access, we’re already seeing delays and fear. For millions of families, this isn’t politics - it’s survival. When the safety net frays, the consequences are immediate and cruel.” - Mark Fukae, Director of Advocacy, Professionals Who Care
The Blueprint for Economic Stability: The Universal Caregiver Bill of Rights
The volatility of the federal government proves that current protections are too fragile. We need a permanent framework. Our Universal Caregiver Bill of Rights is a Framework for Comprehensive Caregiver Support Across the Care Continuum, designed to establish fundamental protections and supports rooted in the core principle of sustainability.
This Bill directly addresses the economic and workforce crisis by codifying essential rights:
Right to Economic Security: Protection from employment discrimination due to caregiving responsibilities, plus access to tax credits, subsidies, or direct financial support to offset caregiving costs.
Right to Workplace Flexibility: Mandated reasonable accommodations, protection from retaliation, and access to flexible work arrangements.
Right to Recovery and Reintegration (Post-Care): Career reentry support and job placement assistance for caregivers transitioning back into the workforce.
Durable Governance: Building on Proven Models
We already know that supporting caregivers stabilizes the workforce. The Colorado Caregiver Accommodations and Rights Enhancement (CARE) Act provides a robust workplace foundation. Its economic modeling projects statewide employer savings from reduced turnover estimated at $17.4M–$69.4M annually.¹
But when state-level reforms prove fragile under national collapse, we must implement federal guardrails. This comprehensive framework- coupled with the legislative necessity of an Automatic Continuing Resolution (Auto-CR) - ensures that care is non-negotiable and protected from political hostage-taking.
Read the Full Blueprint
Explore the full Substack article:🔗 Our Lives on Hold: Caregiving in the Shutdown’s Shadow It includes real stories, policy breakdowns, and a roadmap for durable caregiving infrastructure.
Call to Action
Demand durable governance.Comment “AUTO-CR” to join the Professionals Who Care movement for stability and accountability.
#GovtShutdown #UniversalCaregiverBillofRights #WorkforceStability #AutoCR #PolicyDestruction #Extortion #ReverseRobinHood
Citations
Colorado CARE Act – Fiscal Impact Statement, September 19, 2025.
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, “Government Shutdown Means Millions May Lose Access to Telehealth,” USA Today, October 1, 2025.
Mariel Padilla, “Shutdown Could Affect Health Care, Nutrition and Early-Education Benefits for Families,” The 19th News, September 29, 2025.
https://19thnews.org/2025/09/government-shutdown-federal-workers-families
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