Since the mid-1960s, the U.S. has spent an estimated $25 trillion (adjusted for inflation) on more than 80 federal safety-net programs—with too many disappointing results. These programs have become rife with improper spending, complicated eligibility criteria, and excessive administrative bloat that ensnare recipients into dependence on government. The Foundation recommends the enactment of “Empowerment Accounts” (EAs) to replace some if not all traditional safety-net programs whereby a recipient manages (under the supervision of a community navigator) an account with state funds available for increased flexibility to purchase basic necessities along with improvements to help recipients achieve long-term self-sufficiency.
Border Security
Broadening Our Threat Perception: Iran’s Texas-Pakistani Network
Too many policymakers think of the Iranian regime as solely a Middle Eastern matter. But with attentions focused elsewhere, a powerful network of South Asian Shia Islamists operates with near impunity much closer—across the state of Texas. On March 13, a Pakistani Shia mosque in Houston, named the Ali Center, hosted a commemoration for the...
June 2, 2026