John Washington III Questions Whether Child-Support Enforcement Is Judged by Collections Instead of Families

John Washington III turned to the history of child-support enforcement in his latest statement, arguing that a system presented as protection for families has at times punished them instead. "For decades, Americans have been told child-support enforcement protects families," he wrote. "But history shows some policies punished families for having a man in the home."

He traced the system to its federal roots. "In 1975, the federal program began, and part of its design was reimbursing welfare costs," he wrote, adding that "in 1999, a new incentive structure rewarded states for collections." Families receive billions in support, he acknowledged — but, he argued, "collections alone don't prove fairness or family stability."

His challenge was aimed at how the program is judged. "We should ask who benefits, who struggles, and whether the government is held accountable for families' real outcomes, not just totals collected," he wrote. "Fifty-one years in, Americans deserve clear answers." The statement, signed as a 2028 presidential candidate, is the latest in his series of direct questions to the American people.