To overcome the continuous decline of birth rate in the US, the Trump administration has been weighing a range of ideas to reverse the trend — including a potential $5,000 “baby bonus” for new mothers. The initiative is part of a broader cultural and policy push by conservative leaders to encourage marriage, larger families, and a renewed focus on traditional family values.
The conversation around declining fertility rates has gained momentum in recent weeks, with figures like Vice President JD Vance and tech billionaire Elon Musk championing the issue. The White House is reportedly fielding proposals from think tanks, policymakers, and advocacy groups as it crafts a new blueprint to address the so-called “birth dearth.”
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the total fertility rate in the US has dropped to 1.62 births per woman in 2023, which is well below the 2.1 rate needed to replace the population without immigration. However, this trend in the US mirrors similar declines in many developed countries like Japan, South Korea, Italy and the UK.
Experts have attributed the decrease to a variation of economic, social, and cultural changes. These include the rising cost of living, shifting career priorities, dual-income households, and changing attitudes toward parenthood. The decline is bound to directly affect the economy, the labour force, and the social safety net. The situation worsens when we acknowledge that the world's population continues to age.
In response, conservative policy groups like the Heritage Foundation, which helps lead the “Project 2025” initiative, have offered a variety of proposals to encourage family growth. The project has proposed expanding child tax credits , supporting menstrual cycle education, preferential treatment for married individuals and parents in federal programs like Fulbright fellowships, and greater research into fertility and environmental health.
One idea gaining traction is the “baby bonus” — a direct cash payment to new mothers, proposed at around $5,000. Others within the movement are advocating for “natural fertility” education, promoting pregnancy planning without birth control. Meanwhile, the administration has promised to release a plan next month to expand access to in vitro fertilization, even as internal disagreements persist over the role of assisted reproductive technology.
President Trump has dubbed himself the “fertilization president,” while JD Vance has described falling birth rates as a “civilizational crisis,” criticizing what he sees as anti-family messaging from the “childless left.” Elon Musk, a father of at least 14 children, has warned repeatedly about the risks of a shrinking population, arguing that “the childless have little stake in the future” — and suggesting that intelligence and fertility should be harnessed to help humans eventually colonize Mars.
However, with deep divisions in Congress and among conservatives themselves, particularly over issues like IVF, birth control, and LGBTQ+ family rights, the effort to boost birth rates is shaping up to be as complex as it is culturally charged.
The conversation around declining fertility rates has gained momentum in recent weeks, with figures like Vice President JD Vance and tech billionaire Elon Musk championing the issue. The White House is reportedly fielding proposals from think tanks, policymakers, and advocacy groups as it crafts a new blueprint to address the so-called “birth dearth.”
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the total fertility rate in the US has dropped to 1.62 births per woman in 2023, which is well below the 2.1 rate needed to replace the population without immigration. However, this trend in the US mirrors similar declines in many developed countries like Japan, South Korea, Italy and the UK.
Experts have attributed the decrease to a variation of economic, social, and cultural changes. These include the rising cost of living, shifting career priorities, dual-income households, and changing attitudes toward parenthood. The decline is bound to directly affect the economy, the labour force, and the social safety net. The situation worsens when we acknowledge that the world's population continues to age.
In response, conservative policy groups like the Heritage Foundation, which helps lead the “Project 2025” initiative, have offered a variety of proposals to encourage family growth. The project has proposed expanding child tax credits , supporting menstrual cycle education, preferential treatment for married individuals and parents in federal programs like Fulbright fellowships, and greater research into fertility and environmental health.
One idea gaining traction is the “baby bonus” — a direct cash payment to new mothers, proposed at around $5,000. Others within the movement are advocating for “natural fertility” education, promoting pregnancy planning without birth control. Meanwhile, the administration has promised to release a plan next month to expand access to in vitro fertilization, even as internal disagreements persist over the role of assisted reproductive technology.
President Trump has dubbed himself the “fertilization president,” while JD Vance has described falling birth rates as a “civilizational crisis,” criticizing what he sees as anti-family messaging from the “childless left.” Elon Musk, a father of at least 14 children, has warned repeatedly about the risks of a shrinking population, arguing that “the childless have little stake in the future” — and suggesting that intelligence and fertility should be harnessed to help humans eventually colonize Mars.
However, with deep divisions in Congress and among conservatives themselves, particularly over issues like IVF, birth control, and LGBTQ+ family rights, the effort to boost birth rates is shaping up to be as complex as it is culturally charged.
You may also like
Many vacate Pahalgam hotels, soldiers evict tourists from Gulmarg gondolas
Man Utd set deadline to complete £92.5m double deal as Ruben Amorim wish comes true
'My time at DOGE will drop significantly': Elon Musk to focus on Tesla as it sees big drop in profit
Danny Beard branded 'sick' after confessing what he's stored in his freezer for 8 years
Mumbai News: Special CBI Court Sentences 3 Individuals To 5 Years Of Imprisonment In ₹10.27 Crore Bank Fraud Case; Imposes Penalties
