Director of Tax Policy Studies, Cato Institute; Former Deputy Staff Director at the US Congress Joint Economic Committee
Elena Spatoulas Patel
Co-Director, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center
Jack Salmon
Gibbs Scholar and Research Fellow, Mercatus Center
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*Please note, this event will not be live-streamed.
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) expired in 2025. Now lawmakers face an important question: Does this long-standing hiring incentive actually improve employment outcomes for disadvantaged workers, or has it become another expensive, compliance-heavy program with limited impact?
Join us for a timely discussion on the future of the WOTC, what the evidence shows about its effectiveness, and the policy choices facing Congress. Our panel will assess the program’s performance, its place in the post–One Big Beautiful Bill Act tax landscape, and potential alternatives that may better support disadvantaged workers and employers.
This event will give Hill staff, researchers, and policymakers a clear, data-driven foundation as Congress considers next steps.
