This statement can be attributed to Ashley Burnside, senior policy analyst at the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) 

Washington, DC, March 13, 2025—CLASP is disappointed to see the cancellation of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) pilots in five states previously approved by the Administration for Children and Families. Congress authorized these pilots under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 to provide up to five states with the opportunity to measure outcomes in their TANF programs by examining metrics around earnings and family stability and well-being. States will now need to reapply to be a part of the pilot. 

Under current law, states must engage TANF recipients in work requirements to meet a rigid measure called the Work Participation Rate, which doesn’t account for the individualized needs of recipients who face multiple barriers to employment. The pilot could be a positive step in allowing states to be innovative in how they support families facing financial emergencies and providing pathways to economic stability for families.  

The sudden reversal of the pilot for the five states that were approved last fall is concerning. These states have already been selected and have begun working with contractors to implement their pilots. This cancellation reflects an ongoing pattern of federal agencies ignoring actions by Congress and wasting time and resources at the state and federal levels. The Administration for Children and Families should support innovation at the state level, not hinder it.