Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders

This executive order directs federal agencies to identify and eliminate taxpayer-funded benefits going to illegal aliens, consistent with the 1996 PRWORA law. It requires agencies to review programs, enhance eligibility verification, and ensure federal payments to states do not subsidize illegal immigration or sanctuary policies.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 10581

Impact dates

Mar 21, 2025
OMB Director and US DOGE Service Administrator identify other federal funding sources for illegal aliens and recommend additional actions

Key directives

Head of each executive department or agency shall identify all federally funded programs permitting illegal aliens to obtain cash or non-cash public benefits and take appropriate actions to align with PRWORA
Ensure federal payments to states/localities do not subsidize or promote illegal immigration or abet sanctuary policies
Enhance eligibility verification systems to exclude ineligible aliens who entered illegally or are unlawfully present
Within 30 days: OMB Director and US DOGE Service Administrator shall identify all other federal funding sources for illegal aliens and recommend additional agency actions
Agencies shall refer improper receipt or use of federal benefits to DOJ and DHS

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Agencies must begin identifying federally funded programs that permit illegal aliens to receive benefits
Agencies must begin ensuring federal payments to states/localities do not facilitate illegal immigration or sanctuary policies
Agencies must begin enhancing eligibility verification systems

Near term (90d)

OMB Director and US DOGE Service Administrator must identify all other federal funding sources for illegal aliens and recommend additional actions (within 30 days)
Agencies must refer improper benefit receipt to DOJ and DHS

Long term

Potential realignment of multiple federal benefit programs with PRWORA restrictions
Possible reduction in federal funding flows to states/localities with sanctuary policies
Systemic changes to eligibility verification infrastructure across agencies

Risks & tensions

Vague 'appropriate actions' and 'to the maximum extent permitted by law' create implementation uncertainty and potential litigation over scope
Conflict with state/local sanctuary policies may trigger federalism disputes and withholding litigation
DOGE Service involvement in immigration benefit policy represents institutional tension with traditional agency roles
'Improper expenditure' framing suggests retroactive clawback risk, though text does not explicitly mandate it
PRWORA already law; order's effect depends on what agencies were previously doing differently