Declaring War on Poverty 'Largely Over,' White House Urges Work Requirements for Aid

By Jim Tankersley and Margot Sanger-Katz, The New York Times

15 July 18

resident Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers declared on Thursday that America’s long-running war on poverty “is largely over and a success,” as it made the case for imposing new work requirements on Americans who benefit from federal safety net programs.

The report contends that millions of Americans have become overly reliant on government help — and less self-sufficient — and provided data intended to support the administration’s goal of tying public benefit programs more closely to work.

In April, the president signed an executive order to expand the use of work requirements — which condition benefits on recipients working, preparing for work or participating in similar activities such as community service — and the White House has pushed for legislative changes to certain assistance programs to make such requirements more uniform.

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