Health & Gender Policy Brief #185 | Naja Barnes | February 4th, 2026
Pronatalism is the belief that our society’s duty is to encourage people to have more children (National Women’s Law Center). This belief is rooted in boosting the economy, embracing eugenics, and increasing white nationalism. Elon Musk is echoing this belief by stating that the answer to saving civilization is by having more children. Except that sentiment does not ring true for everyone. And it is not reflective in the Trump Administration’s policies and actions.
Analysis
Some of the Trump Administration’s past and recent policies and policy recommendations contradict the Administration’s push for an increase in the size of the U.S. population. One example is the Administration cutting federal spending of Medicaid and SNAP benefits, which many American families depend on to feed and keep their families safe and healthy. The Administration’s crackdown on immigration is also lowering the U.S. population. However, to counter the declining birth rates, the Trump Administration has targeted contraceptives, proposed monetary benefits to mothers, is currently trying to make IVF more accessible, and reportedly proposed incentives to people with children.
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022, funding for contraceptives has been reduced, and the Administration has also cut funding for organizations such as Planned Parenthood that administer birth control and supply contraceptives. There have been orders to destroy contraceptives that were meant for family planning aid in developing countries, which were set to be destroyed, but were then wasted.
A way propopsed to increase the birth rates in the U.S. under Trump’s Administration is through the use of monetary benefits. One of the benefits would be to give $1,000 from the ‘Trump Account’ to babies with social security numbers born between January 2025 and December 2028. This money is strictly for the baby and is only to be accessed when the child turns 18. Another reportedly proposed monetary benefit is the $5,000 “baby bonus” to new mothers after delivery.
As far as IVF and its affordability, Trump struck a deal with the drug company Merck KGaA to lower the cost of its IVF medications. Trump also issued an executive order that calls for policy recommendations to reduce out-of-pocket and health plan costs for IVF treatments.
Incentivizing parents through programs is another way in which the Administration is aiming to increase the population. They are reportedly considering committing to reserving 30% of Fulbright scholarships for applicants who are married and have children. In 2025, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy circulated orders to his department to give preference to communities with marriage and birth rates higher than the national average in response to awarding loans and grants (Population Connection).
Conclusion
Trump’s goal to increase the birth population is boosted by the Administration’s lowering of funding for reproductive aid and contraceptives.. Policy recommendations such as monetary benefits, IVF accessibility, and incentives are additional ways the Administrations are planning to combat the decline in birth rates.
Engagement Resources
Project 2025 and Pronatalism: How Trump’s Allies are Pushing a Far-Right Family Agenda
Trad Values Meets Tech
https://politicalresearch.org/2025/03/27/trad-values-meets-tech
Pronatalism in the US: The Trump administration’s push for more births
https://populationconnection.org/learn/pronatalism-in-the-us/
Trump’s immigration crackdown led to drop in US growth rate last year as population hit 342 million