The Blubber

The Trump administration is exploring ways to encourage more Americans to marry and have children — including a potential $5,000 “baby bonus” for new mothers after childbirth, according to a report.

White House officials have recently been brainstorming solutions to address the country’s declining birth and marriage rates, aiming to promote the traditional family values championed by President Trump and his allies.

Four individuals involved in these discussions told the New York Times that policy experts and advocates for boosting the birth rate have been meeting with White House aides to develop strategies to persuade more women to have children.

One proposal would give a $5,000 financial incentive to new mothers. Another idea involves reserving 30% of Fulbright scholarships for applicants who are married or have children.

Officials are also considering funding educational programs that help women better understand their menstrual cycles, so they can identify ovulation periods and increase their chances of conception.

Birth rates in the United States have been declining for years, hitting a new low in 2023 with just under 3.6 million births — approximately 76,000 fewer than in 2022, and the lowest annual number since 1979.

Although there was a slight increase in births between 2021 and 2022 during the pandemic, the trend has since turned downward again.

At the same time, the average age of women giving birth has shifted, with fewer births among teens and younger women, and more among women in their 30s and 40s.

The White House has not formally announced which proposals might be pursued, but sources said that fertility and family policy are likely to become key priorities as Trump and his prominent pronatalist supporters — including Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance — look to spur a new “baby boom.”

One option under discussion would provide new mothers with a $5,000 benefit after delivery.

“This administration is inherently pronatalist,” activist Simone Collins told the Times. “Look at the number of kids major leaders in the administration have. You didn’t hear about kids in the same way under Biden.”

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the Times that President Trump “is proudly implementing policies to uplift American families.”