As President Donald Trump touted many so-called “policy wins” for women, it has made me reflect on just how much he has actually harmed women.
President Donald Trump gives his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. For 108 minutes on Tuesday night, I sat in the House Chambers listening to President Donald Trump rattle off tales of a “booming” economy and a country that “has never been better.
” I know I speak for my family – and a majority of my constituents – that we are not better off under the Trump administration. But as he touted many so-called “policy wins” for women, it has made me reflect on just how much he has actually harmed women specifically with his short-sighted, misguided policies – and how important it is that we continue to elevate women into the leadership positions. For example, Trump highlighted access to IVF drugs — but ignored the Medicaid cuts in his “One Big Beautiful Bill,” even though Medicaid covers 40% of births in this country. He bragged about lifting millions off food stamps, while ignoring SNAP changes that disproportionately hurt single moms and caregivers already struggling under this volatile economy. This hypocrisy was not lost on me. Nor was the fact that much of our president’s career has been spent mocking, belittling, and degrading women. Our country is 249 years old. We’ve had 101 in-person State of the Union addresses, and 47 presidents have led the United States. Yet, it wasn’t that long ago that women couldn’t vote, let alone hold public office or sit inside that chamber as lawmakers. There are so many trailblazers who have come before me, paving the way and cracking glass ceilings that once felt unbreakable. Just a few decades ago, Colorado had never sent a woman to Congress. Pat Schroeder changed that. One of just 15 women at Harvard Law School, she was elected at 32, when only 14 women served in the House. She brought her experience as a mom of two to help champion the Family and Medical Leave Act — reshaping how we support working families. She passed that torch to Congresswoman Diana DeGette, who continues that legacy today as a leader of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, fighting to repeal the Hyde Amendment and protect access to abortion care for low-income women. Colorado is lucky to have DeGette at the helm of this fight. The trailblazers before us have moved this country forward, but, as we begin Women’s History Month on Sunday, I can’t help but think of how far we have to go. And there has rarely been a moment more pivotal than right now. Many of Trump’s most extreme policies disproportionately harm women — from cuts to health care and food assistance to attacks on reproductive freedom. And how do we address what feels like insurmountable challenges? By continuing to elevate women — not just as figure-heads — but as leaders. Women don’t want “baby bonuses.” They’re asking for affordable health care, reliable child care, and a safe place to live and raise their families. That means we have to build upon the progress that Sen. Michael Bennet started by making the child tax credit permanent. We have to guarantee paid family leave for everyone, so women have ample opportunity to get ahead. Just one year ago, I became only the 14th Member of Congress to give birth while serving. The sexism I faced was palpable — from being denied the ability to vote remotely to being told I belonged at home, taking care of my baby, instead of in Congress. But I also experienced many moments of hope. Moms would stop me with tears in their eyes, saying they saw themselves in me. It showed me that, above all, representation matters. If we want to solve the biggest challenges facing families — affordability, health care, child care — we have to center the people living them. That means making our institutions more accessible and ensuring women have a real seat at the table. Across the country, women still haven’t held some of the highest offices in our land. And when leadership doesn’t reflect the lived experiences of the people it serves, it’s no wonder so many feel like nothing ever changes. U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen represents Congressional District 7, which includes part or all of these Colorado counties: Jefferson, Broomfield, Lake, Chaffee, Park, Teller, Custer, and Fremont.Avalanche's Brock Nelson speaks about winning gold medal, criticism of his United States teammatesRep. Lauren Boebert leaks photo of Hillary Clinton testifying about Epstein, briefly disrupting closed-door depositionGov. Jared Polis moves to end his monthslong effort to comply with an ICE subpoenaDenver restaurant group CEO steps down; lawsuit over 'service charges' continuesAvalanche star Nathan MacKinnon will miss first game after Winter Olympics
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