Trump wants us to have more kids — but it’s more expensive than ever

The child tax credit is one of the rare policies that garners support from both sides of the political spectrum. It has been viewed as a way to assist middle-income and lower-income families by administrations from both the Democratic and Republican parties since the late 1990s.

However, the current discussion around the child tax credit has taken a different turn this year. The Trump administration is contemplating not only increasing the credit but also introducing a one-time $5,000 baby bonus and other incentives. There are even considerations for initiatives such as a “National Medal of Motherhood” to honor mothers with six or more children and setting quotas for married couples or applicants with children for programs like the Fulbright fellowship.

This shift in focus from solely supporting families to also boosting fertility rates has raised concerns among experts. Julie Kashen, director for women’s economic justice at The Century Foundation, criticized the administration’s emphasis on motherhood medals instead of addressing issues like paid leave and childcare solutions, stating it reflects a lack of understanding of the challenges faced by American parents.

Amidst economic challenges and a growing deficit, the Trump administration faces a test on its commitment to American families as it determines the scope and size of the child tax credit, additional incentives, and eligibility criteria for families. The administration must strike a balance between promoting pro-family values and addressing economic concerns.

Leah Sargeant, who leads a project for women and families at R Street, emphasized the importance of delivering tangible family policy wins amid rising recession fears. However, some experts, like Joslin, doubt that these policies will significantly impact the fertility rate, pointing out that broader issues are not being systematically addressed by the current administration.

Julie Kashen called for a shift towards robust investments in childcare, paid leave, maternal and reproductive care, sick leave, and healthcare for all to improve the financial well-being of parents and make it easier for women to have families on their own terms.