EO 14218 - Letter to State, Local, Tribal Partners

Dear State, Tribal, Territorial, and Local Government Partners, 

On February 19, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order titled “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders .” As the Acting Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, I am committed to faithfully implementing the President's Executive Order. 

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides federal leadership, partnership, and resources for the compassionate and effective delivery of human services to vulnerable populations to help families achieve prosperity and independence. Program eligibility rules are determined by Congress. In 1996, Congress passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA, P.L. 104-193) that generally prohibits illegal aliens from receiving Federal benefits, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Child-Care, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Foster Care, Social Services Block Grant (SSBG). Title IV of the PRWORA states that “[i]t is a compelling government interest to remove the incentive for illegal immigration provided by the availability of public benefits.” Nearly three decades after enactment, the promise of PRWORA has been eroded. That ends now. 

Illegal aliens have already violated United States law and we will not be spending taxpayer dollars to take care of their needs. President Trump's Executive Order reaffirms this important national policy and puts the needs of Americans first. To implement the President’s Executive Order, ACF will use all available legal authority to end any incentives in human services programs that encourage illegal immigration. 

To that end, ACF is reviewing the public benefit programs we administer to ensure alignment with the President's Executive Order. Following that review, ACF will implement necessary changes so all its programs are consistent with Federal law, including PRWORA. ACF will also work to ensure that all information about program eligibility is accurate and does not serve as an incentive to encourage illegal migration. Furthermore, ACF will take all necessary measures to improve eligibility verification, deter fraud, and enforce the law by revoking grants to organizations that distribute benefits to illegal aliens in contravention of federal or state law. 

I look forward to working with State, Tribal, territorial, and local government partners to achieve the purpose of the President's Executive Order. I am confident its implementation will improve program integrity, exercise sound stewardship of taxpayer dollars, and better support our Nation’s children and families. 

Thank you for your continued work to help address the human service needs of vulnerable Americans. I welcome any ideas you might have in improving the administration of ACF programs and achieving alignment with the President's Executive Order. 
 

Sincerely, 
Andrew Gradison 
Acting Assistant Secretary