Massachusetts Senate Launches RESPONSE 2025 to Counter Federal Threats
Effort focuses on safeguarding residents, the Massachusetts economy, and state operations
(BOSTON—4/1/2025) In response to federal actions under the second Trump Administration that threaten critical programs and institutions, the Massachusetts Senate is launching RESPONSE 2025, a coordinated effort to protect residents, defend the Commonwealth’s values, and lead Massachusetts through a potentially difficult time.
Under the direction of Senate President Karen Spilka, the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy will spearhead this effort, working closely with Senate committee chairs and policy experts. The RESPONSE 2025 initiative will focus on four key goals:
Assessing federal actions to determine their real-world impact on Massachusetts.
Identifying policy solutions to mitigate potential harm and safeguard residents.
Prioritizing state responses based on need, feasibility, and effectiveness.
Providing clarity to the public by cutting through misinformation and helping residents understand the state’s role in protecting their rights and services.
“With this initiative, the Senate wants to state unequivocally that we are committed to protecting our residents, defending our values, and leading Massachusetts through the uncertainty of federal action,” stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “We are watching the systematic erosion of programs, supports and institutions that are critical to the wellbeing of our residents, the health of our economy, and the effective operations of our state—which is consistently ranked high on quality-of-life metrics like education, public safety, healthcare, and veterans’ services, among many things. Our economy is consistently strong thanks to the diversity of industries we support here. But I am worried about the reckless and cruel actions of the current administration and their potential negative impact on the things we value. That’s why the Senate will not sit idly by—we have heard the concerns of our residents, and we are prepared to act. I’d like to thank Senator Friedman and Senator Comerford for their leadership, and to the entire Senate for answering this call.”
“The Massachusetts Senate has listened to the concerns of our constituents in every corner of the Commonwealth,” said Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington), Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “From funding cuts, to policy changes, and masked ICE raids, the chaos of the Trump Administration is depriving Massachusetts residents of stability, instead instilling fear in their daily lives. Our constituents deserve action, and the Massachusetts Senate today begins deploying a targeted, comprehensive set of efforts that will protect our residents, defend our values, and lead our Commonwealth through this turbulent time. I am grateful for Senate President Spilka’s trust in me to lead this work through the Committee on Steering and Policy, as we work to foster the fighting spirit Massachusetts has always been known for.”
"At this moment of great peril for our nation, states like Massachusetts can and should provide lines of defense for our residents,” stated Senator Joanne M. Comerford (D-Northampton), Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “Each day brings more federal attacks on the wellbeing of our constituents. The Senate is fighting back. I am thankful to Senate President Karen Spilka for once again driving the Senate to rise to the acute challenges of this time and to be pro-active, solution-oriented, and stronger together as a team."
The Senate, at the direction of the Senate President, has done this work previously. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Senate President Spilka formed a comprehensive COVID-19 Senate Working Group, which was tasked with identifying, prioritizing, and making recommendations on how to respond to immediate COVID-related issues. Similarly, the Senate prepared for federal action by the first Trump Administration by enacting policies to protect residents, and also prepared for fallout from extremist Supreme Court decisions by passing legislation to protect providers, residents, and visitors to the Commonwealth who engage in reproductive and gender-affirming health care.
The Senate Committee on Steering and Policy will soon begin meeting with Senate committee chairs to outline next steps and priorities. By leading a response to federal action, the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy can help committee chairs address concerns about Trump Administration policies while allowing chairs to continue working on the policy meant to move Massachusetts forward.
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