Work requirements are often touted as a remedy to prevent the misuse of benefits. Instead, they only end up harming those who are most in need.

By looking at a natural experiment, researchers were able to find that work requirements end up pushing the most vulnerable people of the programs.

The goal of republicans was tax cuts for the wealthy. But that required cuts to spending - at least some cuts. So they wanted to cut Medicaid because Medicaid helps the poor. Republicans don't want to help the poor.

But Medicaid cut would have required a congressional bill with 60 votes in the senate. They were not going to get that. So they added work requirements which basically added a lot of friction to getting Medicaid. Effectively ensuring a spending cut.

All to give a tax cut to the wealthy.