The Town Hall Theater in Middlebury hosted a community forum titled “Impact of Federal Actions on Vermont” on Saturday, April 16. The forum aimed to address the piling questions about the Trump administration and its potential impact on Vermont. The event was free and open to the public. While the 232 seats in the theater space filled quickly, an additional 550 viewers watched the livestream on the Middlebury Community Television YouTube channel. The forum was also broadcasted live on local television, expanding access to residents statewide.
Addison County Sen. Ruth Hardy and Executive Director of the Town Hall Theater Lisa Mitchell co-organized the event, which featured a panel of four government representatives: Attorney General Charity Clark, Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas, State Treasurer Mike Pieciak and Hardy herself. Each was invited deliberately to speak to their unique areas of expertise.
Clark helps defend Vermont more generally against actions by the federal government. Hanzas and her team are focused on election laws and defending the right to vote. Pieciak is working with a committee to protect Vermont's finances from the tariffs and cuts imposed at the federal level. Hardy, who represents Addison County, has been focused on proactively defending healthcare and gender-affirming care in Vermont as well as strengthening protections for immigrants.
During the panel, community members raised a range of questions regarding issues such as healthcare, education and environmental policy. The majority of in-person attendees were senior citizens from Middlebury or nearby towns. While many were primarily concerned with how these policies would affect their daily lives, there was also a strong desire among attendees to get involved and support efforts to create change.
“What can we as a state do to protect residents from being illegally abducted or forcibly removed from the state? What should we as citizens do if we witness such a situation?” an audience member asked.
In response to this question, Clark began by outlining federal restrictions on immigration law. She then expanded on how individuals can play an active role in protecting vulnerable residents, offering a detailed overview of organizations to contact and resources available to help community members understand their legal rights.
“We have a number of wonderful agencies and nonprofits here in Vermont, but the one that I refer people to regularly is the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project. They have a ton of resources. I would immediately call them, and if you are feeling nervous and anxious, look up their number and put it in your wallet,” Clark told the audience.
In addition to taking live questions, the panel responded to several that were submitted ahead of the event. Most inquiries focused on how broader federal funding cuts might affect individuals’ daily lives. Some citizens also spoke on behalf of local organizations or committees to represent their exact concerns.
“On behalf of the individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, I would like to know what impact the Medicaid cuts will have for people who are getting services, especially help with their daily needs from the home and community-based waiver services,” an audience member said.
Addison-1 Rep. Robin Scheu addressed this question, drawing from her involvement in developing Vermont’s upcoming budget as well as her preparations for potential budget cuts. She explained that much of the state's funding is federally sourced and highlighted specific steps Vermont is taking to combat any further harm to these programs.
“I love to hear a discussion at the state level of how nonprofits should and could be buffered against the cuts in services with federal dollars. I don't expect the state to pick up the bill everywhere, but if we have a lot more people losing their housing, all the other systems are going to fall apart as well. So I'd love to know the prioritizing of what services are important,” another audience member said.
Hardy answered this question, explaining that the state government will first have to determine where cuts are made and then decide how to prioritize the use of its funding. She emphasized that the legislature can control many financial matters and that it will examine budgeting and policymaking on this concern once it has more information.
The forum lasted for an hour and a half, fostering genuine conversations between the audience members and state officials. While the panelists only had the venue for a set time, many audience members had lingering questions. Hardy assured attendees that she would remain available after the event to personally address any further concerns.
Beyond answering questions and giving direct advice, the panelists encouraged citizens to keep fighting for what they believe in.
“This moment is more than being a Democrat or a Republican. This moment is so much bigger than ideology or those party differences. This moment is all about what is right and what is wrong,” State Treasurer Pieciak said. “We all need to speak up. We cannot be silent about it. Being here today is one of the things we can do to step out and make sure our voices are heard.”
Editor’s Note: Addison County Senator Ruth Hardy is married to Professor of Film and Media Studies Jason Mittell, who serves as faculty adviser to The Campus. He had no role in the publication of this article.
