RFK Jr Cuts Off Illegal Alien Access to Over a Dozen Federal Benefit Programs

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Thursday that it has formally ended a decades-old policy that allowed illegal immigrants to access certain federal taxpayer-funded benefits.

The move rescinds an interpretation of the law first implemented under the Clinton administration in 1998.

In a statement released Thursday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said the department is taking steps to prioritize American citizens and restore the original intent of federal assistance programs.

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“For too long, the government has diverted hardworking Americans’ tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration,” Kennedy said.

BREAKING: HHS BANS illegal aliens from accessing taxpayer-funded benefits ENDING a Clinton era policy

“For too long, the government has diverted hardworking Americans’ tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration” – HHS Secretary RFK Jr pic.twitter.com/5DQqiB9wIs

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 10, 2025

“Today’s action changes that—it restores integrity to federal social programs, enforces the rule of law, and protects vital resources for the American people.”

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The policy change marks a significant shift in how the federal government interprets eligibility for certain benefit programs under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, a law originally passed to reform welfare programs.

Since 1998, HHS had interpreted the statute in a way that allowed illegal immigrants to access several federal programs administered by the department.

According to HHS, the following programs will now be off-limits to individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States:

• Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics
• Community Mental Health Services Block Grant
• Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
• Head Start
• Health Center Program
• Health Workforce Programs, including grants, loans, scholarships, payments, and loan repayment initiatives not previously covered
• Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Prevention, and Recovery Support Services Programs administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Grant Program
• Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery Services Block Grant
• Title IV-E Educational and Training Voucher Program
• Title IV-E Kinship Guardianship Assistance Program
• Title IV-E Prevention Services Program
• Title X Family Planning Program

The change affects a wide range of services across behavioral health, mental health, homelessness prevention, child welfare, and family planning programs.

Moving forward, recipients of these federal programs will be required to verify lawful presence in the United States as part of eligibility screening.

The decision aligns with a broader federal effort to tighten oversight of public benefit programs and reduce the use of federal resources by individuals without legal immigration status.

The move also comes amid continued national debate over border security, immigration enforcement, and the fiscal impact of illegal immigration on public services.

While the new policy is expected to draw criticism from some advocacy groups and lawmakers who support broader access to public assistance, HHS officials stated that the decision is based on the agency’s statutory responsibilities and the need to preserve resources for citizens and legal residents.

The agency indicated that the updated guidance will be communicated to grant recipients and federal contractors in the coming weeks to ensure compliance.

The policy reversal takes effect immediately.

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