Earlier this week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to both enforce existing work requirements for participants in programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and to consider adding federal work requirements for participants in programs like Medicaid. The executive order argues that work requirements are necessary to encourage more recipients to become self-sufficient, concluding that "many of the programs designed to help families have instead delayed economic independence, perpetuated poverty, and weakened family bonds."
The executive order, which asks federal agencies to submit proposed regulatory changes in 90 days, has reignited a long-standing debate, with many conservatives expressing their support. Robert Doar, a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and influential voice among right-wing policy wonks, told CNN: "People can't rise out of poverty if they are only receiving SNAP and Medicaid. These programs were meant to supplement earnings, not replace them."
But progressive advocates argue that not only are the work requirements unnecessary (most recipients of federal aid who are able to work do in fact work), they are actually harmful to low-income Americans.
[For more on this story by DWYER GUNN, go to https://psmag.com/economics/tr...h-suggests-otherwise]
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