68% of Americans Say Trump Accounts Won’t Make Them Have More Kids

Despite a $1,000 government incentive, most Americans remain hesitant to have more children.

A recent BadCredit.org study reveals 68% of Americans surveyed say 530A accounts, a $1,000 government-funded investment account for every child born between 2025 and 2028, launching July 4, won’t make them more likely to have a child in the next two years.

This finding lands at an uncomfortable moment. Americans are having the fewest children they have ever had on record. The U.S. fertility rate reached a historic low in 2024 and hasn’t recovered, with many citing affordability as a primary barrier to starting a family. 

The Trump Administration created 503A accounts, or Trump Accounts, to directly address this demographic trend, seeking to help support the American Dream for future generations. Yet while Americans would be happy to take the money, they aren’t willing to have kids for it.

It leaves us with this question: Will Trump Accounts affect demographic trends, or will they simply serve as a wealth-building tool for already expecting or soon-to-be parents?

Nearly Two-Thirds of Americans Would Take the New Baby Investment Accounts

While 530A accounts aren’t necessarily motivating people to have more kids, we found that the policy still has a strong appeal among the American public. 

When asked whether they would open a baby investment account for their kids, 63% of respondents said they would sign up for one if they were having a child. Only 37% said they would not take the money at all. 

These results reveal that despite their hesitance toward having more children, the majority of people still perceive a Trump Account as a long-term financial benefit for families.

On the flip side, this also shows that strong interest doesn’t necessarily equate to behavior change. While most people would support using a Trump Account, having it as an option isn’t enough to incentivize most people to start or expand a family.

Support for Trump Accounts could be driven by multiple factors, but the financial benefit is probably the most prominent. Think of an IRA for children. The 530A account gives children a financial head start with a tax-advantaged investment account that can be used for future home purchases, college tuition, or business expenses. 

Every child born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, will receive a $1,000 account once the program starts on July 4, 2026. Here’s the kicker: The balance will grow over time, whether or not parents decide to contribute, taking pressure off families. 

But for those who want to maximize their investment, they can add up to $5,000 a year. And contributing even a little has benefits. While a Trump Account with zero contributions can reach up to $6,000 after 18 years, one with annual contributions of just $250 can reach an estimated $19,000 by the same year (based on historical S&P 500 averages). 

The appeal is there. But our survey results suggest that financial security may be just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to family planning in the U.S., not the complete story.  

Republicans and Western Residents Are the Most Enthusiastic Supporters

We also found key political and geographical differences in support for Trump Accounts. 

Republicans were more likely to say they would sign up for child investment accounts (73%) compared to Independents (64%) and Democrats (62%). The reasons behind this gap are not fully captured by the data; however, possible contributing factors may include Republicans' favorable views of Trump and the program's framing as a wealth-building tool rather than direct cash assistance.

On the geographical side, support skews West. Here is how the numbers break down by region:

The West notably holds a 13-point differential over the Midwest, which shows the lowest level of support. Though the West is known to be more Democratic, various political, economic, and regional factors could influence why residents in the Western United States view Trump Accounts as more attractive than other regions. 

For one, the West’s outsized support may reflect its investment culture. The region is known to have large concentrations of high-earners, who may already be familiar with investing and have the funds to max out annual contributions. This could allow them to see the most leverage from these accounts than from other areas in the U.S.

Most Americans See the Accounts as a Perk, Not a Reason to Have Children

While Americans appear eager to accept the benefit, our survey suggests most don't view it as a solution to the economic and personal factors shaping family-planning decisions today.

Interestingly, support is underwhelming even among current parents — the group who would presumably be the most aware of what it takes to raise children or willing to have another child, are not incentivized to have a newborn in the next two years. 

Here is how the numbers break down for support of having another baby:

• Have children in both age ranges: 51%
• At least one child between 0-12: 47%
• At least one child between 12-17: 44%
• No children under 18: 23%

Parents are currently facing a string of financial obligations and challenges, including high childcare costs, a housing affordability crisis, and student debt. 

Our study suggests the policy may be strong as a benefit but weak as a fertility incentive. This shows that financial incentives alone may have a limited impact on future fertility decisions among Americans. 

Trump Accounts have achieved broad public support, putting a mark in the win column for the Trump Administration. But support and behavioral change are not the same thing.

There's a quiet irony buried in this data. The policy designed to make Americans have more children is most popular with the people least likely to change their minds about having them, and least popular with those who might.

Trump Accounts may end up being less a fertility policy than an inheritance policy: a meaningful gift to children who were already coming, funded by a problem it was never quite equipped to solve.

Methodology 

This survey was conducted among 1,016 U.S. adults via an online panel. The overall margin of error is approximately ±3.1% at 95% confidence. All questions were single-selection, and each received 1,016 completions. Crosstabs by demographic group (gender, generation, U.S. region, etc.) are available upon request.

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