George Hornedo Releases “What They’ve Torn Down” Memo

A New Framework for Rebuilding Government in the Wake of Trump-Era Dismantling

 

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

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Indianapolis, IN — Today, Democratic congressional candidate George Hornedo (IN-07) released a memo titled “What They’ve Torn Down: The Real Divide and the Case for the CLIMB”—a deeply researched indictment of the Trump administration’s dismantling of government protections and a vision for what comes next.

 

In the memo, Hornedo documents how President Trump’s second term has already hollowed out housing aid, public health funding, climate protections, transit projects, broadband expansion, and worker rights—hurting communities across the country, with specific impacts already being felt in Indianapolis and throughout Indiana.

 

“We are living through decline by design,” Hornedo said. “And too many leaders are just managing that decline. I’m running for Congress to build what comes next and to make sure that Indianapolis doesn’t continue to get left behind.”

 

The memo introduces the CLIMB—the compass that guides Hornedo’s campaign to rebuild the future of government: Courage, Leadership, Integrity, Movement, and Belief. CLIMB is not a policy menu, but a new directional compass grounded in radical proportionality, structural reform, and people-centered investment.

 

Key Findings from the Memo:

 

• Over $100 billion in federal cuts or program reversals across core systems.
   

• A $454,000 loss to Marion County’s immunization programs, part of a broader $40 million clawback in Indiana public health funds.
   

• The termination of housing discrimination investigations after HUD defunded Indianapolis’ Fair Housing Center.
   

• A full pause on Indiana’s $15 million Digital Equity broadband expansion after Trump declared the program “unconstitutional.”
   

• The closure of the IUPUI-based Midwest Equity Center and the loss of Title I and TRIO education support statewide.
   

Hornedo’s memo calls the current moment a “real divide” between builders and managers, between decline and the climb. This memo includes detailed sourcing, local consequences, and a national call to action for Democrats to stop defending what’s broken and start building again.

The full memo is available HERE.