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FGA Urges Federal Agencies to Implement Work-Oriented Reforms

Washington, D.C. –  Following the Trump administration’s April executive order aimed at promoting work and economic mobility for able-bodied adults on welfare, the Foundation for Government Accountability (FGA) issued recommendations for agencies administering welfare programs. With 30 days left for agencies to make recommendations, FGA urges both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to implement commonsense reforms that will move millions of able-bodied adults from welfare to work.

FGA’s recommendations to both CMS and FNS included reforms that promote work for able-bodied adults dependent on Medicaid and food stamps and welfare integrity measures to ensure that resources are preserved for the truly needy. Work requirements for able-bodied adults on food stamps have seen tremendous success in states that have implemented the reform, and after the Trump administration issued guidance for states to apply the reform to able-bodied adults on Medicaid, several states have worked to implement the commonsense reform.

Agencies should also seek to close eligibility loopholes by eliminating broad-based categorical eligibility and targeting state abuse of food stamp work requirement waivers to reduce welfare fraud, waste, and abuse.

“For the second month in a row now the unemployment rate has dipped below four percent, and there are nearly  seven million available jobs across the nation,” said Tarren Bragdon, CEO and President of FGA. “The President’s April executive order laid the groundwork for agencies to move millions of able-bodied adults off welfare and back to work at just the right time. Federal agencies must consider and implement proven solutions that will reduce dependency, promote work for able-bodied adults, and preserve resources for the truly needy.”

Related:
FGA Memo to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
FGA Memo to Food and Nutrition Services

The Foundation for Government Accountability is a non–profit, multi–state think tank that specializes in health care, welfare, and work reform. To learn more, visit TheFGA.org.

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