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4w ago

Trump Administration Considers $5,000 Baby Bonus Amid Declining U.S. Birth Rates

Critics argue the proposed incentives fail to address systemic challenges like childcare costs, paid leave, and workplace flexibility.

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A child holds a dome stress ball during a rally at the Capitol on March 13, 2025 in Washington, D.C.
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Overview

  • The Trump administration is reviewing pronatalist measures, including a $5,000 baby bonus, scholarship preferences for parents, and a 'National Medal of Motherhood' for women with six or more children.
  • U.S. birth rates have fallen below replacement levels for nearly two decades, with the average woman having 1.62 children as of 2023.
  • Critics, including the House Democratic Women’s Caucus, argue that cash bonuses are insufficient and call for investments in paid family leave, affordable childcare, and expanded child tax credits.
  • Research highlights the 'motherhood penalty,' where childbearing significantly reduces women’s earnings and career progression, contributing to the gender pay gap.
  • International examples suggest financial incentives alone have largely failed to reverse declining birth rates, with systemic barriers playing a larger role in delayed or foregone parenthood.