Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders
February 19, 2025
Action Summary
- Purpose: Reaffirm the intent of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 to restrict taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal aliens, while reversing recent administrative policies that undermined this goal.
- Agency Directives: Instructs all executive departments and agencies to:
- Identify federally funded programs that currently allow illegal aliens to receive any public benefits.
- Align these programs with the law’s intent.
- Ensure Federal payments do not promote illegal immigration or support sanctuary policies.
- Enhance eligibility verification systems to exclude ineligible non-citizens.
- Further Actions: Directs the Office of Management and Budget and the United States DOGE Service, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, to:
- Identify additional sources of Federal funding benefiting illegal aliens.
- Recommend further agency actions to better align Federal spending with this order.
- Referral to Authorities: Requires agencies to refer any improper receipt or use of Federal benefits to the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security for appropriate action.
- General Provisions: Clarifies that the order does not impair statutory authority or the Director of the Office of Management and Budget’s functions, is subject to funding availability, and does not create enforceable legal rights.
Risks & Considerations
- The Executive Order aims to restrict taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal aliens, which could lead to increased scrutiny and verification processes for federal funding. This may impact institutions that rely on federal grants and aid, including universities.
- There is a potential risk of increased administrative burden on Vanderbilt University to ensure compliance with enhanced eligibility verification systems for any federal funding received.
- The order could lead to changes in federal funding allocations, potentially affecting research grants and financial aid programs that involve federal resources.
- Vanderbilt University may need to review its policies and procedures to ensure alignment with the new federal guidelines, particularly if involved in programs that could be affected by this order.
Impacted Programs
- Office of Financial Aid may need to implement stricter verification processes to ensure compliance with federal guidelines regarding the eligibility of students for federally funded financial aid.
- Research Administration might face increased requirements for verifying the eligibility of participants in federally funded research projects, potentially affecting project timelines and resource allocation.
- The Office of Sponsored Programs could see changes in the availability and conditions of federal grants, necessitating adjustments in grant application and management strategies.
Financial Impact
- Changes in federal funding policies could impact the financial landscape for universities, potentially affecting the availability of grants and financial aid programs.
- Vanderbilt University may need to allocate additional resources to ensure compliance with new verification and reporting requirements, which could have budgetary implications.
- There may be opportunities to secure funding for research and initiatives that align with the goals of the Executive Order, particularly in areas related to immigration policy and public benefits.
Relevance Score: 3 (The order presents moderate risks involving compliance and potential changes in federal funding policies.)
Key Actions
- Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should monitor changes in federal funding policies related to public benefits and immigration. Understanding these changes will be crucial for ensuring compliance and identifying any potential impacts on university programs that may involve federal funding.
- The Department of Political Science could conduct research on the implications of enhanced eligibility verification systems and their impact on communities, providing valuable insights that can inform public policy discussions.
- Vanderbilt’s Legal Affairs Office should review the university’s policies and procedures to ensure they align with the new federal guidelines on public benefits and immigration, minimizing any legal risks associated with non-compliance.
Opportunities
- The executive order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Center for Immigration Studies to engage in policy analysis and advocacy. By providing evidence-based recommendations, the center can influence how federal policies are shaped and implemented, particularly in relation to immigration and public benefits.
- Vanderbilt can leverage its expertise in social sciences to host forums and discussions on the broader societal impacts of immigration policies, positioning the university as a thought leader in this area.
Relevance Score: 3 (Some adjustments are needed to processes or procedures to ensure compliance with new federal guidelines and to capitalize on research opportunities.)
Timeline for Implementation
- Within 30 days of February 19, 2025.
Relevance Score: 4
Impacted Government Organizations
- Executive Departments and Agencies: The order directs the head of each executive department or agency to review and, where necessary, adjust federally funded programs to ensure compliance with the law, thereby impacting a broad set of Federal entities.
- Office of Management and Budget (OMB): The Director of OMB is charged with identifying additional sources of Federal funding for illegal aliens and recommending agency actions, playing a central role in implementing the order.
- United States DOGE Service: The Administrator of the United States DOGE Service is tasked, along with the OMB Director, to coordinate on reviewing Federal funding mechanisms, thus being directly affected by the directive.
- Department of Justice (DOJ): Agencies must refer any cases of improper receipt or use of Federal benefits to the DOJ for appropriate action, ensuring its involvement in enforcement.
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Like the DOJ, the DHS is also instructed to handle referrals of improper use of taxpayer benefits, marking its role in enforcing the order’s provisions.
Relevance Score: 2 (The executive action directly affects 5 specific Federal organizations or branches, which falls within the 3-5 range.)
Responsible Officials
- Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies – Tasked with identifying federally funded programs that inappropriately deliver taxpayer-funded benefits to illegal aliens, ensuring Federal payments do not subsidize illegal immigration, and enhancing eligibility verification systems as outlined in Section 2(a).
- Director of the Office of Management and Budget – Charged with identifying other Federal funding sources for illegal aliens and recommending agency actions to align Federal spending with this order under Section 2(b).
- Administrator of the United States DOGE Service – Required, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, to support the identification of additional funding sources and recommend further adjustments to eligibility verification as per Section 2(b).
- Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy – Involved in coordinating efforts with the Director of the OMB and the Administrator of the United States DOGE Service to ensure comprehensive implementation.
- Departments of Justice and Homeland Security – To receive reports of any improper receipt or use of Federal benefits for further action as mandated in Section 2(c).
Relevance Score: 4 (The directives directly affect agency heads and top officials responsible for policy implementation).