Taxpayer-Funded Benefits Are for American Citizens — Not Illegals

7/10/2025

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Action Summary

Objective: Preserve taxpayer-funded benefits exclusively for American citizens by excluding illegal aliens.
Total Benefits Preserved: Approximately $40 billion in benefits retained for American citizens.
Agency-Specific Measures:
- Department of Health and Human Services: Restricts illegal aliens from 13 public programs, including Head Start, health workforce scholarships and loans, mental health and substance abuse support, and family planning.
- Department of Education: Ends free tuition for illegal aliens at post-secondary career and technical education programs.
- Department of Agriculture: Restricts illegal aliens from accessing federally funded food assistance programs.
- Department of Labor: Bars illegal aliens from federal workforce development resources and grants.
- Department of Justice: Closes loopholes that previously permitted illegal aliens access to taxpayer-funded benefits.
Context and Continuity: This action builds on President Trump’s earlier executive order aimed at ending the subsidization of open borders, marking the most significant step in over 30 years toward reining in benefits for non-citizens.

Risks & Considerations

The executive order’s restriction on taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens could lead to increased scrutiny and compliance requirements for universities, including Vanderbilt, to ensure that their programs and financial aid offerings are in alignment with federal regulations.
There is a potential risk of reduced diversity within the student body, as students who are undocumented may face additional barriers to accessing education and support services, impacting the university’s commitment to inclusivity.
The changes in policy could lead to a decrease in the number of students eligible for certain federally funded programs, such as scholarships and loans, which may affect enrollment numbers and the financial stability of some programs.
Vanderbilt University may need to reassess its partnerships and collaborations with federal agencies to ensure compliance with the new regulations, particularly in areas related to workforce development and educational programs.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt’s Financial Aid Office will need to review and potentially adjust its policies to ensure compliance with the new restrictions on federal benefits for undocumented students.
The Office of Diversity and Inclusion may need to develop new strategies to support undocumented students who are affected by these changes, ensuring they have access to alternative resources and support systems.
Vanderbilt’s Career and Technical Education Programs might experience changes in enrollment and funding, necessitating adjustments in program offerings and outreach efforts.
The Department of Education Policy and Research at Vanderbilt could see increased demand for research and analysis on the impacts of these policy changes on educational access and equity.

Financial Impact

The restriction of federal benefits could lead to a decrease in funding for certain programs at Vanderbilt, particularly those that rely on federal grants and resources for workforce development and educational support.
Vanderbilt may need to allocate additional resources to support undocumented students who are no longer eligible for federal benefits, potentially impacting the university’s budget and financial planning.
There could be a shift in the demographics of students applying to Vanderbilt, affecting tuition revenue and financial aid distribution as the university adapts to the new policy landscape.
Opportunities for securing federal funding for research and development in areas related to immigration policy and educational access may increase, providing new avenues for academic inquiry and collaboration.

Relevance Score: 4 (The order presents a need for potential major changes or transformations of programs.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should closely monitor changes in federal policies regarding access to educational and workforce development resources. This will be crucial in understanding how these changes might impact the university’s student body and funding opportunities.
Vanderbilt’s Financial Aid Office should assess the potential impact of these policy changes on student demographics and financial aid needs. Understanding these shifts will be essential for adapting financial aid strategies to support a diverse student body.
Vanderbilt’s Center for Child and Family Policy should engage in policy analysis and advocacy to understand the broader societal impacts of restricting access to public programs. Providing evidence-based recommendations can influence how these policies are implemented and their effects on educational equity and access.
The Department of Political Science should conduct research on the broader societal impacts of these policy changes. This research can provide valuable insights into how these policies affect educational equity, community dynamics, and long-term economic outcomes.

Opportunities

The policy changes present an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Peabody College to expand its research and development of educational models that address the needs of American citizens. By leveraging its expertise in education policy and reform, Peabody can contribute to the design and evaluation of effective educational programs.
Vanderbilt can capitalize on the increased focus on supporting American citizens by developing new programs and partnerships with educational institutions that align with these policy changes. This could include joint research initiatives and collaborative curriculum development.

Relevance Score: 4 (The policy changes present the potential for major process changes required for Vanderbilt’s programs due to impacts on student demographics and funding opportunities.)

Average Relevance Score: 4

Timeline for Implementation

Effective immediately, as announced on July 10, 2025.

Relevance Score: 5

Impacted Government Organizations

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Responsible for restricting illegal aliens from accessing 13 additional public programs, including Head Start, mental health, and family planning services.
Department of Education: Tasked with ending free tuition for illegal aliens at post-secondary career and technical education programs.
Department of Agriculture: Charged with limiting access for illegal aliens to federally funded food assistance programs.
Department of Labor: Directed to bar illegal aliens from accessing federal workforce development resources and grants.
Department of Justice: Assigned to close loopholes that have historically allowed illegal aliens to access taxpayer-funded benefits.

Relevance Score: 2 (3-5 agencies are impacted by the order.)

Responsible Officials

Department of Health and Human Services – Responsible for restricting illegal aliens from 13 additional public programs.
Department of Education – Tasked with ending free tuition for illegal aliens at post-secondary career and technical education programs.
Department of Agriculture – Charged with restricting illegal aliens from federally funded food assistance programs.
Department of Labor – Instructed to bar illegal aliens from accessing federal workforce development resources and grants.
Department of Justice – Directed to close longstanding loopholes permitting illegal aliens to access taxpayer-funded benefits.

Relevance Score: 5 (Directives affect Cabinet-level officials responsible for policy execution across multiple federal departments.)