Let me be clear: taxpayer-funded benefits are for American citizens and lawful residents — NOT for those who break our laws to get here. Today, under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, the federal government is finally putting American citizens first by closing the loopholes that have allowed illegal aliens to access billions in benefits they were never entitled to.

This marks the boldest action in over 30 years to protect American taxpayers and restore the rule of law. Here’s what’s happening:

• More than 15 public assistance programs across five major federal agencies will now be off-limits to illegal immigrants.

• These changes enforce the original intent of Congress under the 1996 welfare reform law — which radical bureaucrats have ignored for decades.

• $40 billion worth of taxpayer-funded programs will now be protected for American families who are struggling and stuck on waitlists.

President Trump’s action reverses decades of open-border policies and ends the days of hardworking Americans being forced to subsidize benefits for illegal aliens.

Here's what the Trump Administration is doing:

• Department of Health and Human Services: Blocking illegals from 13 additional public programs, including Head Start, mental health and substance abuse services, family planning, and more.

• Department of Education: Ending free tuition for illegals in post-secondary career and technical education.

• Department of Agriculture: Restricting access to federally funded food assistance.

• Department of Labor: Shutting illegals out of workforce development grants and training programs.

• Department of Justice: Closing loopholes that have enabled illegals to abuse taxpayer dollars.

Meanwhile, our brave ICE and Border Patrol agents are under siege — physically attacked by radical leftist mobs who have been emboldened by reckless Democrat rhetoric.

Just this month:

• In Alvarado, Texas, 11 leftist agitators opened fire at an ICE facility after vandalizing federal property.

• In Portland, Oregon, federal officers were assaulted with kicks, punches, and incendiary devices.

• In McAllen, Texas, gunfire rained down on a Border Patrol facility, sending officers to the hospital.

Let’s be blunt: this is what happens when Democrats call ICE agents “Gestapo,” “thugs,” and “vigilantes.” They incite violence and then play dumb when our officers are attacked.

Some of the worst offenders:

• Rep. Hakeem Jeffries told people to “fight in the streets.”

• Rep. Pramila Jayapal said obstructing ICE is “inspiring.”

• Sen. Bernie Sanders urged Americans to “figure out a way to stop ICE.”

• Rep. AOC said ICE “should not exist.”

• Gov. Tim Walz smeared ICE as the “modern-day Gestapo.”

• And the list of anti-ICE rhetoric goes on and on...

To make matters worse, there’s now an app — called ICEBlock — designed to tip off illegal immigrants about upcoming enforcement actions. That’s right: a smartphone app encouraging people to interfere with law enforcement and help criminal aliens escape.

That’s why I joined Reps. Roger Williams and Pat Fallon in demanding that Attorney General Pam Bondi investigate this dangerous app immediately. We cannot let technology become a tool for lawlessness.

I stand firmly with our ICE officers and law-abiding citizens across this country. The American people have had enough. We are taking our country back — and it starts with putting Americans first.