House Republicans File Reconciliation Bill Banning Illegal Aliens From Welfare Benefits

House Republicans, led by the Republican Study Committee (RSC), unveiled a sweeping framework for a second reconciliation bill on Tuesday, aiming to ban illegal aliens from accessing taxpayer-funded welfare programs and reform federal funding allocations to states based solely on U.S. citizens. The proposal, which requires only a simple majority in the Senate, could significantly impact California, a state with one of the largest illegal alien populations and a history of using state and federal taxpayer dollars to fund their healthcare, housing, welfare and education, pushing the related programs and the state to insolvency.

The bill, introduced as H.R. 1, builds on the first reconciliation package passed in 2025, which included major tax cuts and border security funding. This latest iteration focuses on curbing what Republicans call “rampant fraud” in welfare programs, codifying former President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration, and implementing spending cuts estimated to save $1.6 trillion over the next decade. 

🚨 BREAKING: House Republicans just filed a new reconciliation bill BANNING illegals from obtaining a dime of taxpayer welfare

Only 51 votes required in the Senate! GET THIS DONE 🔥

It also:
– Ensures only citizens count for purposes of allocating funding to states
– Cracks… pic.twitter.com/EK1HVt8rDx

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 13, 2026

Arizona Rep. Abraham Hamadeh, a vocal proponent of the measure, emphasized its urgency during a press conference. “Republicans in Congress can and must go it alone with the second reconciliation bill,” Hamadeh stated. “This RSC’s framework is all about making life affordable again for the American people and putting the American worker first. It prevents illegal immigrants from obtaining all government handouts, cracks down on rampant fraud like the abuse and mess that we’ve seen in Democrat states like Minnesota, and reforms funding so only citizens count when they’re doling out federal funds to the states.”

Hamadeh continued, “This is our moment to flip the script, restore balance for the American people, and put power back in your hands—not bureaucrats, foreign nationals, or illegal immigrants. This bill achieves more conservative wins for House Republicans; it codifies President Trump’s executive orders and slashes even more wasteful spending. My colleagues and I didn’t run for office to continue the status quo. We understand that business as usual will put our country out of business. We were elected to Make America Great Again, and with reconciliation 2.0 in this framework, we take another giant step towards that.”

The Arizona congressman’s remarks highlight a broader GOP push to prioritize American citizens in federal spending, a stance that resonates with the U.S. majority. but raises alarms in states like California. California’s reliance on federal funds for programs serving illegal aliens and mixed-status families could face cuts if the bill passes, particularly as it seeks to exclude non-citizens from apportionment formulas used for allocating resources to states. 

The measure could exacerbate California’s budget woes, already strained by Governor Gavin Newsom’s policies expanding healthcare and housing assistance to illegal aliens. For instance, Newsom’s decision to provide free healthcare to illegal aiens has driven Medi-Cal to insolvency, according to recent analyses.

In September, the Globe reported: “Governor Gavin Newsom’s Medi-Cal program for low-income Californians is insolvent. We have Gavin Newsom to thank; he gifted free Medi-Cal coverage to every illegal immigrant in the state, costing taxpayers $23 billion over 2 years, forcing Newsom to get both an emergency loan and a bailout, Rep. Kevin Kiley just confirmed.”

A similar state Senate bill last year aimed to offer home loan down payments to illegal aliens.

The California Globe has extensively covered the state’s sanctuary policies and their fiscal implications. Governor Newsom’s embrace and prioritization of illegal aliens at taxpayer expense is well chronicled. Assembly Democrats passed a $50 million “Trump-proofing” slush fund to shield sanctuary policies and provide legal aid to illegal aliens.

Governor Newsom then begged for $40 billion in federal funds, while defying Trump’s policies. The billions requested in federal disaster relief coincided with California’s attempt to fortify state laws against federal immigration enforcement. California Globe has also highlighted bills blocking immigration enforcement near schools and Republican proposals to defund sanctuary cities.

With a record 5.5 million California residents on food stamps, this Republican reconciliation measure offers real relief by ending the magnet of free benefits that encourages illegal immigration. Democrats, predictably, are fighting tooth and nail to preserve the status quo that rewards lawbreakers over citizens.

As the bill moves forward, California’s congressional delegation will face a clear choice: stand with American workers or continue defending failed open-border policies. With the state’s high gas prices and economic “misery index”, the GOP’s affordability measures—such as spending cuts—could offer relief but at the expense of programs Newsom has championed…and ruined.