The U.S. unemployment rate has reached a historic low, in fact it’s at the lowest on record in half a century. On top of that achievement the Trump Administration is closing the long-standing abuse loopholes of America’s welfare system. No longer will freeloaders and lazy people be able to take advantage of tax payers.
Since the very first implementation of President Donald Trump’s America First policies, the country’s unemployment rate has steadily declined. In 2019, the percentage has not crept above 4 percent since January, and the October number of 3.6 percent is the lowest rate since 1969.
Economists have stated that the country is experiencing full employment based on the fact there are more available job opportunities than unemployed Americans. The next challenge is retraining individuals to fill good-paying positions, and that initiative is underway.
That being said, the White House has made it abundantly clear that suckling off the labor of hard-working taxpayers is over. The USDA is reforming America’s food stamps program called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program. The biggest (and best) change to the program would require every able-bodied individual receiving food stamps to work.
The forthcoming changes would require that welfare recipients between the ages of 18-49 who get food stamps for more than 3 months must now work 20 hours, take classes, engage in job retraining, or volunteer at a suitable non-profit every week. The new guidelines would not impact citizens over 50, child caretakers, pregnant women, or disabled people.
That last sentence is the one every mainstream media outlet who hates President Trump and Democrats always leave out. The only criticism they can make of his required change is to lie to make President Trump seem cruel to children and families.
“We need to encourage people by giving them a helping hand but not allowing it to become an indefinitely giving hand,” Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue reportedly stated. “Now, in the midst of the strongest economy in a generation, we need everyone who can work, to work. This rule lays the groundwork for the expectation that able-bodied Americans re-enter the workforce where there are currently more job openings than people to fill them.”
Supporting the new policy and Trump Administration agenda, the number of people filing for unemployment benefits recently ticked down to 203,000, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. That marks the fewest unemployment benefit claims filed since April 1969.
What may be concerning about the welfare system is that the number of people receiving taxpayer-funded support has not necessary declined proportionally to the improved jobs market.
When President Trump took the oath of office, there were reportedly 42,297,791 individuals, and 20,937,903 households enrolled in food stamps. Those numbers have declined only modestly to the current 36,401,408 individuals and 18,462,672 households. Put those statistics next to the country having 7.6 million unfilled positions, and there’s cause for concern about welfare scams.
Although the new rules would encourage people to seek retraining and gainful employment independence, the president’s political rivals have begun yet another misinformation campaign in the fake news media.
“Instead of combating food insecurity for millions, connecting workers to good-paying jobs or addressing income inequality, the administration is inflicting their Draconian rule on millions of Americans across the nation who face the highest barriers to employment and economic stability,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reportedly stated, contrary to the USDA facts.
According to reports, The USDA estimates the rule change would impact 688,000 welfare recipients and save taxpayers $5.5 billion over the next five years by putting able-bodied people back to work.
In states with higher than average unemployment or cases in which a lack of viable employment is available, SNAP administrators would have the latitude to waive the mandatory 20 hours per week minimum. Unfortunately for the scam artists who have been literally riding the gravy train, it’s time to get a job.