The Trump administration is opening applications for a new six-year welfare reform pilot aimed at reducing state reliance on federal programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF. Spearheaded by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the initiative focuses on promoting employment and personal responsibility across five selected states.
“The Trump Administration determined the Biden TANF pilot did not reflect this administration’s goals,” the official announcement stated, citing a lack of focus on employment outcomes and dependency reduction. The new pilot reverses agreements made under President Biden with California, Maine, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Ohio—though those states may reapply.
Acting ACF Secretary Andrew Gradison emphasized the program’s return to the original goals of welfare reform. “ACF is returning to the original intent of welfare reform to ensure our programs are laser-focused on delivering outcomes for families and results for taxpayers,” he said.
The program will measure success through quantifiable metrics such as employment rates, median earnings, insurance coverage, and the prevalence of two-parent households. The first year of the program is designated for data collection and setting performance benchmarks.
The pilot aims to create a blueprint for modernizing welfare by encouraging states to reduce dependency and increase labor force participation. Key performance indicators will focus on work-eligible individuals and their transition into stable employment, with a parallel focus on strengthening family structures.
Applications for state participation are due by August 15. The program is expected to become a hallmark of the administration’s broader effort to reassert conservative principles of self-reliance, work-first welfare reform, and fiscal accountability in federal assistance programs.
