The Obama legacy supersized the welfare state, undermined American self-reliance, stifled economic growth, and encouraged government dependency. Nowhere is this legacy clearer than in food stamps.
The number of people dependent on food stamps hit more than 44 million in 2016. There are now more people on food stamps than the entire population of Canada. Skyrocketing enrollment has led to massive spending increases, crowding out critical resources for other priorities.
President Trump has begun reversing this damage through policies aimed to restore the American belief in hard work and self-sufficiency. Unemployment has dropped nearly half a percentage point since President Trump assumed office and the number of new jobs added to the economy has exceeded all projections.
But to become great again, America needs willing workers to fill open jobs. Employers have more than 6 million open American jobs that need to be filled immediately. Businesses need workers. Those trapped on welfare need work.The Trump administration can jump start the revival of the American worker in three simple steps, regardless of congressional gridlock.
These actions would free up to 2.5 million people from welfare dependency on government while saving up to $5 billion a year – or up to $50 billion over the next decade.
Through administrative action, the following three steps would immediately put the administration on track to revive the American worker:
• Stop waiving work requirements for able-bodied childless adults on food stamps
• Revise regulations to require work
• Eliminate illegal work requirement exemptions