Trump wants us to have more children – but he is more expensive than ever

There are few policies that attract partisan support and tax credit for the child is one of them.

Since the late 1990s, both democratic and republic administrations have seen this procedure as a way to support medium income families and low income.

This year, the discussion is slightly different.

Along with a possible credit increase, the Trump administration is studying one -time baby reward, $ 5,000 and other incentives, according to the New York Times. The “National Motherhood” medal honors those who have six children or more, and for couples or applicants who have children to obtain programs such as Volibright Fellowship, according to the Times newspaper a report last month.

The issue of enhancing fertility rates, instead of supporting American families, entered chat.

“The fact that [Trump] The administration said directly to the maternity medals, not anything like paid leave solutions or child care solutions that explains the extent of their lack of contact with what parents in America are facing now. Jolly CacheneDirector of Economic Justice for Women at the Century Foundation.

After starting an ambitious tariff policy facing economic opposite winds, the Trump administration will now be tested for its commitment to American families. The administration will determine the scope and size of the child tax, consider additional incentives and suggest how it is organized when it comes to determining the income of qualified families.

The administration will have to balance the pro -family values ​​with widespread fears of the economy and the growing deficit.

“The recession expectations have increased, so I think it is very important for the administration to provide some concrete victories for family policy,” said Leah Sargent, a modern book, said. A report published by the Nissanin Center This highlights the potential benefits of the child’s reward.

The Trump administration has not issued any executive orders on tax credit for the child, and Congress continues to match the future of the American Salvation Plan law, which includes credit ruling.

The tax credit for the child who temporarily increased the benefits and expanded eligibility during the Biden administration in 2023.

The current credit provides $ 2000 for the child for qualified individuals who reach $ 200,000 and up to $ 400,000 for couples who joinly apply.

Without the extension of Congress, credit will return to $ 1,000 for the child in 2026 if the validity of tax cuts and the provisions of the job law ended at the end of this year.

Although the child’s tax credit was common between the two parties for decades, some experts suggest that he excludes poor families because they do not earn enough money to qualify for him.

“It is for American families who are not among the poorest,” said Catherine Eden, director of the Bandheim Thuman Research Center on the welfare of children and family at Princeton University. “In fact, 25 % of American children are left from any or part of the credit because credit was very deviant from the poor – it’s remarkable the degree that is ignored by the poor.”

Fertility concentration

Discussion of the child’s bonus hit a different tone.

Eden said: “It is a completely different logic, and this is really related to increased fertility – this is necessary,” Eden said. “It is not a matter of helping families with children, they literally pay people to have children.”

Trump appears to be open to Pronatalist ideas. “We will support the children’s boom and we will support the child’s rewards He said At the conservative political work conference in 2023, the New York Times reported.

Even the child’s reward supporters say it is a temporary procedure that can help, but they will not automatically stimulate more Americans to have children.

“A $ 2000 child’s reward will cost between 5.3 to $ 7.7 billion annually, depending on whether it is a global program or in stages at a rate of 20 percent to be a fully prepared for $ 10,000 of profits,” says Leskanin the Leah Sarge Center in the report.

“It is clear that families are struggling, that families should not and should not be left outside this reconciliation package, and that there is a very wide list of ways to help catch up with child tax credit to inflation and put a reward for children that will work with many American families” and I also think that just delivering supporting families is a priority for this administration. “

Even before the start of Trump’s second term, American families were struggling. It is not clear that his administration will be able to persuade the Americans to have more children while the economy goes to recession.

The proposed child’s reward will not be covered up to the average delivery cost of most parents. The average total cost of vaginal births is $ 14,768 and the cesarean section is about $ 26.280, according to UW Health Data.

A medium -income family with two children spends about $ 310,605 to raise a child, according to L. Modern data Collected by the Brookings Institute.

Child care costs also increased. Day care costs and pre -school are 22 % Between January 2020 and September 2024, according to the Labor Statistics Office.

In the United States, the burden of early childhood care is for parents, which makes it Or outside Compared to other advanced economies. This negatively affects the parents’ ability to continue working as well as caring for their children.

“The participation of the workforce of young parents is the weaker in the United States compared to many peer countries, most likely because of our lack of paid parental leave as well as the high cost of child care,” according to analysts in Institute of Economic Policy.

With the addition of definitions, there are now early indications that it will become Even more expensive and more difficult to bear children’s products And raising children.

Although it is still too early to determine whether things will get worse for parents, it is clear that Trump will have to balance the fragile economy, fears of deficit, and the concrete economic relief of families who fight and adhere to beliefs.

“Many American data have indicated that one of the reasons why they do not want to develop their families is that they are not sure that they will be able to be economically in the coming years,” he said, he said, he said, he said, he said, he said, he said, he said, ” Courtney JooslinWhich leads the R Street project for women and families. “When you start from there, this is a different political conversation whether you start,” well, if we offer an increase in the child’s tax, and the child’s reward, will suddenly enhance the Americans’ willingness to have more children. “

Goslin suspects that these policies will greatly enhance the fertility rate. None of the most broader issues is currently being treated in a systematic way by the Trump administration, according to experts. Ultimately, no incentive will be persuaded by people to get children if they feel financially unsafe.

“It is time to stay away from the DIY system that we have – where every family is for themselves,” said Jolly Cachene. “Instead, we need strong investments in child care, paid leave, parental and reproductive care, pathological leave and health care for all to enhance financial health and the well -being of parents in America and facilitate women to have families with their own conditions.”