The Trump administration is reportedly working on a plan that will help convince American women to get married and have a baby or babies. Over the past few weeks, the Trump White House has been soliciting ideas on how it can persuade women to get married and start having not one, but several babies. Since Trump took office, both billionaire Elon Musk and Vice President J.D. Vance have encouraged Americans to make more babies.
Ideas Are Being Tossed Around
According to a report by the New York Times, some of the ideas being tossed around in the Oval Office include reserving a 30% Fulbright scholarship to married applicants and offering a $5,000 “baby bonus” to every American mother after she has given birth.
The administration is also considering launching programs that will teach women about their menstrual cycle. Such a program would be government-funded. No one should believe that a class about a woman’s monthly period will lead to couples making a lifetime commitment to parenthood.
The “Fertilization President”
In past comments, Trump has called for a “baby boom” and even went as far as calling himself the “fertilization president.” Right now, it is unclear if the White House will implement these plans, but it is attempting to develop them.
The Times also reported that some “within the administration and on Capitol Hill are interested in more sweeping legislative ideas for reversing declining birthrates,” including the proposed “baby bonus.”
“Baby Bonus” Considered
“Several lawmakers are exploring legislation to offer new parents a “baby bonus,” a one-time payment of a few thousand dollars to the mother of the child, to be issued soon after her delivery, according to people familiar with the discussions. The “baby bonus” could also take the form of a young child or newborn supplement to the existing child tax credit.” the Times, added.
Trump Protects IVF
These latest ideas come on the heels of Trump signing an executive order that decreased the cost of in vitro fertilization, more commonly known as IVF.” Trump’s executive order instructed Trump’s assistants supply him with a list of policy recommendations that would not only protect IVF but “aggressively reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatment” within 90 days.”
During Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, IVF became an issue after Alabama agreed to protect in vitro fertilization doctors from any type of legal liability. This ruling came just two weeks after the Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos were to be considered children under state law.
Poll Shows Americans Support IVF
At the time, Trump said that he supported IVF’s availability. A poll released in June by the Associated Press- NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showed that 6 in 10 American adults supported protecting IVF, 26% were neutral, and 1 in 10 opposed it.
What Trump’s proposed plans do not include is any type of outline or suggestion on how American families will be able to afford to raise the new babies at a time when many Americans are struggling just to buy eggs.
