U.S. Sen. Rand Paul on Tuesday introduced legislation aimed at ending the use of taxpayer-funded welfare benefits for non-citizens living in the United States.
The proposal, titled the End Welfare for Non-Citizens Act, would prohibit federal funds from being used to provide benefits — including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other federal subsidies — to refugees, asylees or individuals residing in the country without legal status.
“With a national debt exceeding $38 trillion, Washington should not be running a welfare system on autopilot,” Paul said in a statement announcing the bill. “The End Welfare for Non-Citizens Act puts America First by stopping taxpayer dollars from being siphoned into benefits for non-citizens.”
Paul argued that limiting welfare benefits to U.S. citizens is necessary to preserve the long-term sustainability of federal safety net programs and to ensure responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds.
“If we want a sustainable safety net and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, this bill is a must-pass,” he said.
Supporters of the legislation point to recent high-profile cases of fraud as evidence that federal welfare programs lack sufficient oversight. Federal prosecutors have said a massive fraud scheme in Minnesota, involving pandemic-era food assistance programs, could total as much as $9 billion, underscoring concerns about waste, abuse and mismanagement within the welfare system.
Paul has long argued that federal welfare programs should prioritize American citizens and that extending benefits to non-citizens encourages illegal immigration while placing additional strain on taxpayers.
The bill is expected to face opposition from Democrats and immigration advocacy groups, who argue that cutting off benefits could harm vulnerable populations and create humanitarian concerns.
The full text of the End Welfare for Non-Citizens Act is available HERE.
