Senator Josh Hawley Proposes Doubling Child Tax Credit to $5,000

The proposal aims to support working families but faces scrutiny over its potential $2–$3 trillion cost over a decade.

Sen. Josh Hawley has proposed increasing the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 to $5,000 per child, including retroactive eligibility for pregnancies within the tax year.
The plan includes provisions to make the credit accessible to low-income families by applying it to payroll taxes and removing the $2,500 income threshold for eligibility.
Families could opt to receive the credit in installments throughout the year rather than as a lump sum during tax season.
The estimated cost of the proposal, between $2 trillion and $3 trillion over 10 years, has raised concerns among fiscal conservatives and budget-focused lawmakers.
The proposal reflects a shift in some Republican circles toward pro-family policies and echoes similar initiatives supported by Vice President-elect JD Vance.