The proposed rules would classify the refundable portions of the adoption tax credit, child tax credit, American Opportunity tax credit, and earned income tax credit as "federal public benefits." This reclassification could disqualify hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of non-citizens with Social Security numbers and work authorization, including asylum applicants, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and DACA recipients, from receiving these tax refunds. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the move aims to "protect the integrity of the tax system, and put Americans first."