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Donald Trump and his administration have, since 2018, been committed to a radical and accelerated reconfiguration of the welfare programs for the poor, SNAP (food aid) and Medicaid (means-tested medical cover). The quid pro quo required of claimants for these two programs has been intensified, and the principles behind the introduction of Medicaid may be called into question. The health emergency triggered by the corona-virus epidemic may however put a (temporary) stop to such initiatives, given the crucial roles that these two programs are expected to play in the face of sharp increases in unemployment and poverty.