Trump to Launch Child Accounts on July 4 After Enrolling 5 Million and Securing $6.25 Billion
Updated
Updated · The Atlantic · May 21
Trump to Launch Child Accounts on July 4 After Enrolling 5 Million and Securing $6.25 Billion
2 articles · Updated · The Atlantic · May 21
July 4 is the start date for Trump Accounts, tax-advantaged child-savings accounts that Treasury says have already enrolled more than 5 million children born or eligible this year.
$1,000 in federal seed money goes to children born from 2025 through 2028, while families can add up to $5,000 annually and keep the accounts invested only in U.S. companies.
$6.25 billion from Michael and Susan Dell will fund $250 deposits for some older children who miss the federal grant, and Ray Dalio is adding $75 million for a similar Connecticut effort.
The rollout still depends on parents opting in through tax forms, a design critics say leaves many low-income nonfilers out and has already kept tens of millions of eligible children unenrolled.
The program borrows from existing child-savings models and could outlast Trump politically, but its branding, zip-code-based donor rules and U.S.-only investment mandate may limit take-up and diversification.
Why is a known solution to enroll 67 million children into Trump Accounts not being implemented by the Treasury?
Could a child's savings account jeopardize their family's access to food assistance and other essential benefits?
Trump Accounts’ Staggering 67 Million Participation Gap: Why Opt-In Enrollment Is Failing America’s Children
Overview
Trump Accounts, created by the 2025 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act,' are a federal program offering every U.S. child born between 2025 and 2028 a $1,000 tax-advantaged investment account to support their financial future. Despite this promising start, only 6.6 million out of 73 million eligible children were enrolled by May 2026, revealing a huge participation gap. This shortfall is mainly due to the program’s opt-in enrollment process, which makes it hard for many families to access the benefit. Without major changes to boost enrollment, most children may miss out on this important opportunity.