Trump Ends $40 Billion in Wide-Ranging Free Benefits for Illegal Immigrants
The Trump governance announced a major policy change ending education, food, and health benefits for undocumented immigrants in the United States. Directed by President Trump, this move aims to preserve approximately $40 billion in taxpayer-funded benefits exclusively for American citizens and overturns decades of previous policies. The action builds on a February executive order citing the 1996 welfare reform law, which generally prohibits illegal immigrants from receiving most public benefits to discourage illegal immigration.
Key federal departments-including Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, Agriculture, and Labor-have issued guidance to implement this directive. Consequently,programs such as Head start,access to community health clinics,career and technical education,Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),and federal workforce growth resources are no longer available to people in the country illegally. Officials emphasized that this change restores integrity to social programs, enforces the rule of law, protects resources for American taxpayers, and prioritizes legal residents in government-funded programs.
The Trump administration announced Thursday that it was ending education, food, and health benefits for people in the country illegally.
“Today, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the Administration is taking the biggest step in more than 30 years to protect taxpayer-funded benefits for American citizens — NOT illegal aliens,” the White House said.
“The move, which preserves roughly $40 billion in benefits for American citizens, overturns decades of bureaucratic defiance and builds on President Trump’s executive order directing an END to the subsidization of open borders.”
In February, Trump issued an executive order, citing provisions from the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (i.e., welfare reform), which “generally prohibits illegal aliens from obtaining most taxpayer-funded benefits.”
That statute reads, in part, “It is a compelling government interest to remove the incentive for illegal immigration provided by the availability of public benefits.”
Department heads for Health and Human Services, Education, Agriculture, and Labor all released guidance on Thursday on how they will be implementing Trump’s directive.
“Today, at the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the Administration is taking the biggest step in more than 30 years to protect taxpayer-funded benefits for American citizens — NOT illegal aliens.”https://t.co/Yw8Wn8qtbm
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) July 10, 2025
The Head Start program, along with access to community health and mental health clinics, are no longer open to illegal aliens.
“For too long, the government has diverted hardworking Americans’ tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said. “Today’s action changes that — it restores integrity to federal social programs, enforces the rule of law, and protects vital resources for the American people.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced that illegal immigrants are not eligible for career, technical, and adult education programs.
“Postsecondary education programs funded by the federal government should benefit American citizens, not illegal aliens,” she said. “Under President Trump’s leadership, hardworking American taxpayers will no longer foot the bill for illegal aliens to participate in our career, technical, or adult education programs or activities.”
Today, @usedgov ends taxpayer-funded education subsidies for illegal aliens.
Thanks to @POTUS’s leadership, hardworking Americans won’t have to foot the bill for education programs that should be reserved for legal residents.https://t.co/g6vq22Sa4x
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) July 10, 2025
Likewise, the Agriculture Department’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is closed to illegal aliens.
“Today’s notice makes clear its intent — illegal aliens should not receive government dollars. This effort is one of many by the Department of Agriculture to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse of USDA’s programs and policies,” Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said.
Finally, the Labor Department stated that “illegal immigrants are not allowed access to federal workforce development resources and related grants.”
“America’s workforce is stronger than ever under President Trump’s leadership because he is committed to upholding the rule of law and putting American workers first,” Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer said.
“Our updated guidance makes clear that taxpayer-funded workforce services are reserved for individuals who are authorized to work in the United States, as required by federal law,” she continued.
“By ensuring these programs serve their intended purpose, we’re protecting good-paying jobs for American workers and reaffirming this Administration’s commitment to securing our borders and ending illegal immigration.”
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
