The Path Ahead for Welfare Reform

In the years since the landmark 1996 welfare reform law — which marks its 30th anniversary today — policymakers have missed opportunities to apply its lessons and expand its reach to other safety net programs, notwithstanding some recent success in extending work requirements to Medicaid and food assistance. It’s time for a new round of welfare reforms that build upon the fundamental principles of the 1996 law, while adapting to the needs of a modern economy and evolving demographics.