Overview

• The Trump administration is reviewing a proposal to offer a $5,000 payment to new mothers as part of efforts to reverse declining U.S. birth rates.
• President Trump has expressed preliminary support for the idea, saying, 'Sounds like a good idea to me,' though no final decision has been made.
• Additional proposals under consideration include reserving 30% of Fulbright scholarships for married or parenting applicants and funding fertility education programs.
• Critics, including advocacy group MomsRising, argue that cash bonuses are insufficient and advocate for structural supports like affordable childcare and paid family leave.
• The U.S. birth rate hit a historic low in 2023, with just under 3.6 million births, well below the replacement level of 2.1 births per woman.