On April 10, 2018, President Donald Trump passed executive order 13828 (Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility). It was believed by President Trump that, “the welfare system still traps many recipients, especially children, in poverty and is in need of further reform and modernization in order to increase self-sufficiency, well-being, and economic mobility.” (1). What did the modernization and reform of the welfare system look like, and why has it been revoked by President Biden?
Section 2a of the order points out it is the Federal Governments job, “to clear paths to self-sufficiency, reserving public assistance programs for those who are truly in need” (2) and that, “the Federal Government should do everything within its authority to empower individuals by providing opportunities for work, including by investing in Federal programs that are effective at moving people into the workforce and out of poverty.” (3). It also called for a review of its Federal public assistance programs and to then either disband, or improve upon them (4).
Section 2b continues with the list of principles known as the ‘Principles of Economic Mobility’ shown in the image below.
Further along in the order in section 1c, it begins to speak of reviewing federally funded workforce programs. While under review, if any of these workforce programs are similar or overlapping, they should be looked at and either consolidated, or removed completely. Also investments should be made at getting people qualified or equipping people with the necessary skills to find employment, rather than rely on the government. (5).
The executive order looks to place more power into the individual States hands which will allow them more freedom to manage public assistance programs themselves, and also looks to create a set of metrics which will help measure outcomes, allowing agencies to be held accountable in certain circumstances. “These metrics should include assessments of whether programs help individuals and families find employment, increase earnings, escape poverty, and avoid long-term dependence.” (6). Everything was to be reviewed 90 days after the order passed.
No real reason has been given by the current Biden administration as to why this order was revoked.
-Trent Naz
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Source Section-
(1) Trump, D., 2021. Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility. [online] Federal Register. Available at: <https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/04/13/2018-07874/reducing-poverty-in-america-by-promoting-opportunity-and-economic-mobility> [Accessed 18 March 2021].
(2) Presidency.ucsb.edu. 2021. Executive Order 13828 — Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility. [online] Available at: <https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-13828-reducing-poverty-america-promoting-opportunity-and-economic-mobility> [Accessed 18 March 2021].
(3) Trump, D., 2021. Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility. [online] Federal Register. Available at: <https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/04/13/2018-07874/reducing-poverty-in-america-by-promoting-opportunity-and-economic-mobility> [Accessed 18 March 2021].
(4) Arnold, A., 2021. President Signs Executive Order on Reducing Poverty by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility. [online] NCSHA. Available at: <https://www.ncsha.org/blog/president-signs-executive-order-on-reducing-poverty-by-promoting-opportunity-and-economic-mobility/> [Accessed 18 March 2021].
(5) Arnold, A., 2021. President Signs Executive Order on Reducing Poverty by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility. [online] NCSHA. Available at: <https://www.ncsha.org/blog/president-signs-executive-order-on-reducing-poverty-by-promoting-opportunity-and-economic-mobility/> [Accessed 18 March 2021].
(6) Trump, D., 2021. Reducing Poverty in America by Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility. [online] Federal Register. Available at: <https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/04/13/2018-07874/reducing-poverty-in-america-by-promoting-opportunity-and-economic-mobility> [Accessed 18 March 2021].
