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Monday, February 23, 2026

Tag: Benefits
December 16, 2025
Health
News

Troops Discharged Over Biden’s Vaccine Mandate to Receive Honorable Status.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has ordered the Pentagon to identify and upgrade records of service members discharged for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Secretary Pete Hegseth, Pentagon officials, and approximately 8,700 service members discharged under the Biden government’s vaccine mandate.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: December memorandum, with a one-year timeline for review completion.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “The Department is committed to ensuring that everyone who should have received a fully honorable discharge receives one…” – Sean Parnell

🎯IMPACT: Potential restoration of honor and benefits for thousands of military members discharged under the vaccine mandate.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is directing the Pentagon to proactively review and upgrade the records of service members discharged from the U.S. military for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine under the former Biden government. Administration officials say the effort aims to restore honor to individuals who received “general discharge” as a result of the mandate.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, in a December memorandum, emphasized the progress made since the initial directive to reinstate veterans who were involuntarily discharged or voluntarily left military service due to the “unfair, overbroad, and unnecessary” COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The new directive expands these efforts by ordering a review of personnel records to identify those discharged solely for vaccine refusal and facilitate appropriate upgrades.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell explained the impetus for the new directive, “Under the previous administration, the Department involuntarily separated approximately 8,700 Service members for failing to comply with the Department’s since-rescinded COVID-19 vaccination mandate. Of those, more than 3,000 received less-than-honorable discharge characterizations.” Parnell added that military departments have been instructed to complete their reviews within one calendar year, with no action required from former service members.

Military service members impacted by the former Biden government vaccine mandate may also access the military board review website to address any perceived errors or injustices in their records. “The Department is committed to ensuring that everyone who should have received a fully honorable discharge receives one and continues to right wrongs and restore confidence in, and honor to our fighting force,” Parnell noted.

Additionally, an Executive Order signed by President Donald J. Trump in November reinstated GI benefits for veterans discharged due to the vaccine mandate.

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December 16, 2025
Immigration
Lawfare

Biden Judge Delays Trump Admin Effort to Restrict SNAP Benefits for Migrants.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge extended the grace period for states to comply with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility rules after a legal challenge by 20 states.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Trump administration, 20 state attorneys general, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon Kasubhai, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed on November 26, and the ruling was issued on December 15. The issue involves SNAP programs across the U.S.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The inability to provide compliance in the time period in which they were forced to by virtue of the guidance contributed to an erosion of trust.” – Judge Michael Simon Kasubhai.

🎯IMPACT: The ruling mandates that the Trump administration extend the grace period for states to comply with changes to SNAP eligibility.

IN FULL

A federal judge ruled on Monday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must allow states additional time to bring themselves into compliance with new guidance regarding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility. The order follows a coalition of 20 state attorneys general filing suit on November 26, arguing that the administration failed to provide a legally required 120-day compliance period.

The issue centers on guidance issued by the USDA on October 31, 2025, which would bar SNAP benefit eligibility for certain lawful permanent residents—including refugees and asylum seekers. Notably, the USDA guidance stems from changes to SNAP, also known as food stamps, made under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump on July 4. Provisions in the law significantly reduced the number of immigrants who can qualify for the supplemental food assistance.

States were initially told to comply immediately with the new SNAP eligibility rules or face significant fines. However, after an initial legal challenge, the Trump administration reversed course on December 10 and reinstated eligibility for all lawful permanent residents. Other SNAP restrictions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act remain in place, and the USDA continues to contend that the compliance grace period ended on November 1.

In his ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon Kasubhai—a Biden appointee—agreed with the 20 state attorneys general, ruling that the USDA’s position was unlawful and inconsistent with past practices. “The inability to provide compliance in the time period in which they were forced to by virtue of the guidance contributed to an erosion of trust,” Judge Kasubhai wrote, extending the grace period to April 9, 2026.

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November 3, 2025
Health
News

21 Democrat States Are Refusing to Turn Over Illegal Immigrant SNAP Data: USDA Secretary.

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âť“WHAT HAPPENED: U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced that 29 states complied with a federal request to share Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data to ensure illegal immigrants are not receiving benefits, while 21 states refused.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Brooke Rollins, 29 states that complied, 21 states that refused, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Rollins discussed the issue on November 2, following a February letter sent to state governors.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It is time to drastically reform this program so that we can make sure that those who are truly needy, truly vulnerable, are getting what they need.” – Brooke Rollins

🎯IMPACT: Thousands of instances of illegal SNAP use were uncovered, with 700,000 people removed from the program since Trump’s inauguration, and over 118 arrests made for fraud.

IN FULL

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced this week that 29 states have complied with a federal request to share Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) data in order to ensure that illegal immigrants are not receiving benefits. Twenty-one Democrat-run states refused to provide the requested information, according to Rollins.

Rollins stated on November 2 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent letters to all 50 governors in February, reminding them that federal law prohibits illegal immigrants from accessing SNAP and requesting state data for a nationwide review. She noted that participation in the SNAP climbed by nearly 40 percent under the former Biden regime.

Rollins said the data-sharing initiative uncovered “thousands” of cases of illegal SNAP use, including fraudulent activity involving Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. She reported that nearly 700,000 people have been removed from the program since President Donald J. Trump returned to office, with more than 118 arrests tied to ongoing investigations into fraud.

“What this country has allowed is a national spotlight on a broken and corrupt program,” Rollins said. She also revealed that investigators found over 5,000 cases of people continuing to receive benefits after their death. “It is time to drastically reform this program so that we can make sure that those who are truly needy, truly vulnerable, are getting what they need,” she added.

In a post on X, Rollins reiterated that 21 blue states declined to share data and said that two of them have sued the USDA over the request. The SNAP program, commonly known as food stamps, has been a central issue during the ongoing government shutdown. A federal judge recently ruled that benefits must continue for the 42 million Americans who rely on them, although the Trump administration is seeking clarification on how the program can be legally funded during the shutdown.

According to the USDA, SNAP enrollment dropped by over 600,000 people between January and May 2025, from roughly 42.38 million to 41.74 million, a decline the Trump administration highlighted as evidence of reducing food stamp dependence.

The issue of illegal immigrants receiving government benefits has also drawn national attention. The administration has pursued several actions aimed at preventing noncitizens from accessing taxpayer-funded aid, including blocking illegal immigrants from collecting Social Security benefits and suing states such as Minnesota for offering tuition assistance to illegals. The White House recently reported uncovering dozens of criminal noncitizens who were receiving Medicaid benefits.

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May 12, 2025
Corruption
Immigration

Homeland Security Subpoenas California Over Benefits Going to Illegal Immigrants.

PULSE POINTS:

âť“What Happened: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued subpoenas to California state government officials, seeking records related to alleged misuse of federal funds to benefit illegal immigrants through the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).

đź‘Ą Who’s Involved: DHS, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Los Angeles, California, Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) administration, and the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC).

đź“Ť Where & When: Subpoenas were issued in Los Angeles, California, on Monday, with records sought dating back to 2021.

💬 Key Quote: Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated, “Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens access to cash benefits. If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over.”

⚠️ Impact: The investigation could expose alleged misuse of billions in federal taxpayer dollars and could lead to further scrutiny of California’s financial practices and immigration policies.

IN FULL:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued subpoenas to California state government officials over allegations of federal funds being improperly allocated to illegal immigrants through the state’s Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI). The subpoenas, filed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Los Angeles, demand records dating back to 2021, including applicants’ names, birth dates, immigration status, and other program-related documents.

California’s CAPI program provides monthly cash benefits to aged, blind, and disabled non-citizens who are ineligible for federal Supplemental Security Income. However, the White House believes that the program has been extended to illegal immigrants who are barred from accessing federal social security benefits.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blasted California’s state leadership, accusing them of prioritizing illegal immigrants over American citizens. “Radical left politicians in California prioritize illegal aliens over our own citizens, including by giving illegal aliens access to cash benefits,” she said in a statement. “If you are an illegal immigrant, you should leave now. The gravy train is over.”

The investigation follows a report from the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), which revealed that California may be using federal reimbursements to fund state programs benefiting illegal immigrants. EPIC alleged that nearly $4 billion in federal taxpayer dollars are being funneled to healthcare and other initiatives for illegal immigrants through Medicaid provider taxes. The report describes the process as a “money laundering scheme,” with California projected to receive over $19 billion in federal funds from April 2023 to December 2026 without contributing state funds.

Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) has yet to publicly respond to DHS’s allegations. However, a spokesman for California’s Department of Healthcare Services claims EPIC’s allegations are “misleading.”

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April 17, 2025
Immigration

Trump Blocks Social Security Benefits for Illegal Aliens.

PULSE POINTS:

âť“What Happened: President Donald Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum to prevent illegal aliens and ineligible individuals from receiving benefits under the Social Security Act.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Trump Administration, Social Security Administration (SSA), 50 U.S. Attorney Offices, and Medicare and Medicaid fraud-prosecution programs.

đź“Ť Where & When: The Memorandum was signed today in the United States.

💬 Key Quote: “Taxpayer-funded benefits should be provided only to eligible persons and must not encourage or reward illegal immigration to the United States.” – President Trump.

⚠️ Impact: The Memorandum seeks to protect taxpayer funds, expand SSA fraud investigations, reduce incentives for illegal immigration, and stop payments to ineligible individuals.

IN FULL:

President Donald J. Trump has enacted a Presidential Memorandum to prevent illegal aliens and those deemed ineligible from accessing benefits provided through the Social Security Act. The directive involves a series of enforcement measures intended to safeguard taxpayer dollars, remove incentives for illegal immigration, and address instances of benefit fraud.

Key components of this initiative include the Social Security Administration (SAA) collaborating with at least 50 U.S. Attorney Offices to strengthen its fraud prosecutor program. Moreover, it establishes dedicated fraud prosecution initiatives for Medicare and Medicaid across 15 U.S. Attorney Offices. These steps aim to ensure benefits do not reach individuals who do not qualify.

To further combat identity fraud, the SSA Inspector General has been tasked with examining income records for people aged 100 and over with inconsistencies in their Social Security information. Additionally, the agency is exploring whether to reinstate civil monetary penalties for those committing Social Security fraud, a measure that has been dormant for several years.

According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), American taxpayers incur expenses surpassing $182 billion yearly due to the presence of approximately 20 million illegal aliens and their offspring, based on both federal and state expenditures. Despite some illegal aliens contributing taxes, reports suggest they remain a net fiscal burden, estimated at roughly $150.7 billion.

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April 11, 2025
Immigration
NatSec

Immigrants on Terror Watchlist Granted Medicaid Benefits.

PULSE POINTS:

âť“What Happened: The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) revealed that a group of 6,300 individuals admitted into the U.S. under the Biden regime were identified to have criminal records or were on the terrorist watchlist and subsequently able to obtain government benefits like Medicaid.

đź‘Ą Who’s Involved: The individuals were processed by Border Patrol and identified by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) during Joe Biden’s term of office.

đź“Ť Where & When: These incidents have been occurring since at least 2023 within the United States.

đź’¬ Key Quote: The Department of Government Efficiency stated that these paroles “have since been terminated with immediate effect.”

⚠️ Impact: Paroled individuals were able to receive social security numbers and file for work authorization. It was found that 905 individuals accessed Medicaid, 41 collected unemployment benefits, 22 received federal student loans, 409 received tax refunds, and several benefited from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payouts.

IN FULL:

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has identified a cohort of 6,300 individuals admitted into the United States without legal status who are listed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Terrorist Screening Center watchlist or possess criminal records. According to DOGE, almost all of these illegal immigrants were admitted and paroled into the United States by the former Biden government.

Despite lacking official legal status, these paroled individuals filed for work permits and were granted social security numbers. Subsequently, they were able to obtain access to various government benefits, raising concerns regarding eligibility and oversight failures.

Among the identified 6,300 people, 905 were found to be registered for Medicaid, including four individuals on the terrorist watchlist, accruing $276,000 in expenses. Additionally, 41 individuals collected unemployment insurance worth $42,000, and 22 had federal student loans totaling $280,000.

Furthermore, 409 individuals received tax refunds totaling $751,000 in 2024 alone. Several have also reportedly accessed benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) program, commonly known as food stamps. The investigation into the exact number of SNAP recipients continues.

The Department of Government Efficiency stated that these paroles “have since been terminated with immediate effect.” However, the revelations have prompted questions within the government regarding the rigor of current screening processes and the mechanisms in place for vetting individuals.

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