New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today released the following statement after the federal government agreed to temporarily pause implementation of harmful new restrictions on access to public benefit programs:
“We are glad to have come to an agreement with the federal government to pause their restrictions on PRWORA, which would have hurt New Jersey families,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Head Start, family planning clinics, community health centers, and more deserve full federal support, and we will continue fighting for that and against any illegal restrictions.”
Earlier this week, Attorney General Platkin and 20 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit opposing the federal government’s attempt to change how eligibility for federally supported services is interpreted under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA). Now, the U.S. Departments of Justice, Health and Human Services, Education, and Labor have agreed not to enforce the challenged policy changes in the plaintiff states until at least September 3, 2025. The agreement also confirms that the federal government will not impose penalties or enforcement for any conduct that may conflict with the federal government’s changed interpretation of PRWORA during this same period.
