Trump Team Mulls Pronatalist Policies Amid Birthrate Worries

The Trump administration is reportedly weighing pronatalist policies to address declining U.S. birth rates, such as a $5,000 'baby bonus' for new mothers, reserving 30% of Fulbright scholarships for married individuals or parents, and government-funded education on menstrual cycles to improve conception awareness. President Trump has publicly expressed support for the baby bonus, though no proposals have been officially endorsed. The U.S. birthrate has generally fallen since 2007, with only a slight recent uptick, raising concerns among conservative advocates including Elon Musk and Vice President JD Vance. Project 2025, a conservative policy framework, is heavily influencing the policy discussions with an emphasis on restoring family centrality. Critics argue that the $5,000 bonus would only partially offset childbirth costs, which average about $19,000. These initiatives reflect a broader conservative movement to address what is seen as a demographic challenge.