By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the General Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” – The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription from the National Archives (Italics are mine)
What are our obligations to our fellow American citizens? The Constitution says one reason for our union is to promote the general welfare, which I believe includes helping those in need; for example, those who have experienced natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes or volcanic explosions. Are you a resident of a poor state or a rich state? That shouldn’t matter because the idea is that no state is left solely to its own resources. Our taxes contribute funds to a central authority (in this case the federal government) that is supposed to help all citizens, regardless of the state in which they live or to which political party they belong. 
The idea of communal responsibility to help those in need is a very Jewish one, which is why I was so distressed to learn that the Trump administration is refusing to fund community grants offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Those whose homes and businesses were flooded in Broome County in 2011 know the help FEMA offers. The community grants (some of which were already awarded, but which will no longer be funded) were to prevent damage from future floods and other natural disasters. 
These cuts will also hinder our ability to predict upcoming weather disasters, which limits not only property damage, but saves human lives. Pikuach nefesh, the saving of a human life, is not only considered a fundamental Jewish principle, but one of the most important mitzvot (commandments) we can perform. Having trouble visualizing how these are connected? Tornado warnings can help people find a safe place to shelter. Flood warnings give people time to leave before the water reaches their area. Hurricane warnings can help people move to a safe space and/or leave the area. All of these warnings save lives. 
Saving the lives of our fellow citizens: that seems to me to be a fundamental purpose of our government. If the federal government is not going to provide services for U.S. citizens, then what is the reason for its existence? It certainly isn’t to fund the salaries of members of Congress or the executive branch. What need is there for them if they are not concerned with helping the citizens who voted for them?
If the purpose of the Trump administration is to prevent the federal government from helping U.S. states and citizens, then we need to decide whether we should be supporting that government with our taxes. New York state is a relatively wealthy state, so we might be OK on our own, especially if the funds we now pay to Washington would go to Albany instead. I feel for those states whose citizens live in poverty and need all the help they can get. Unfortunately, the current administration thinks they’ll be fine on their own, or, perhaps, really doesn’t care about their welfare. The latter idea is a profoundly sad one.