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.
Family
Texas Means Friend, But Families Are the Foundation
States spend billions of taxpayer dollars on programs intended to help vulnerable families, but the data suggests they are largely not setting recipients on a path of independence and flourishing. When you dig into the numbers, it has less to do with a lack of funds and more to do with how those funds are...
October 22, 2026