Budget Cuts Series: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

For over two years, Smart Dissent's Budget Cuts Series has exposed Trump's proposed budget cuts, finding savage proposals hidden beneath the surface.  The Trump White House proposed their third budget in mid-March 2019 but it's been insanely hectic since then so our Series has a lot to catch up on during April and May 2019.

In today's Budget Cut Series, Trump's budget would eliminate the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.  You've probably never heard of TANF.  Neither had we.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides grant funds.... to provide families with financial assistance and related support services. State-administered programs may include childcare assistance, job preparation, and work assistance.

... applicant must be either pregnant or responsible for a child under 19 years of age.... must be a U.S. national, citizen, legal alien, or permanent resident; have low or very low income; and be under-employed (working for very low wages), unemployed or about to become unemployed.  Each state and territory decides the benefits it will provide.... establishes the specific eligibility criteria that must be met to receive financial assistance payments or other types of benefits and services.

A government program to provide funds to states to help their residents who are in dire need by providing TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES.  Republicans want to end the program.  Government isn't evil; Republicans are.

The budget would cut assistance that helps struggling families afford the basics, including food and rent.  It targets for deep cuts benefits and services for people of modest means, even as it confers large tax cuts on those at the top. It would cut.... support to poor families with children through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)... . The budget calls for deep cuts in public housing, a critical source of affordable housing, and would raise rents for millions of low-income households receiving rental assistance (including both those living in public and private housing).

The budget’s tax cuts and program changes would increase income inequality and widen racial disparities.  The budget would permanently extend the 2017 tax law’s tax cuts for.... high-income taxpayers and heirs to very large estates.  Together with the budget’s proposed cuts in Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and low-income discretionary programs, these policies would worsen income inequality.

More of the same from Republicans working for their overlords.

Sources:

https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/613

https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-budget/2020-trump-budget-a-disturbing-vision