Trump says baby bonuses are a ‘good idea.’ Can cash boost birth rates?

The Trump administration is reportedly exploring ways to reverse America’s declining birthrate by offering incentives for larger families, potentially including a baby bonus.

The Trump administration is reportedly exploring ways to reverse America’s declining birthrate by offering incentives for larger families, potentially including a $5,000 “baby bonus” for new mothers.

That’s according to a report published Monday by the New York Times, saying that U.S. President Donald Trump is looking to address the country’s falling birth rate; it comes after he recently dubbed himself the “fertilization president.”

One idea being considered by the White House includes setting aside scholarships for married applicants or parents, the Times reported. Another would pay a baby bonus to new mothers, and a third would fund menstrual‑cycle education to help women better track fertility, according to the article.

On Tuesday, when reporters asked about the report of White House plans to give parents bonuses for having a child, Trump backed the idea.

“Sounds like a good idea to me,” Trump said.

The U.S. birth rate has been steadily falling for decades.

In 1990, the average American woman had about 2.1 children — the level needed to keep the population steady. By 2023, that number had dropped to 1.62, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This trend isn’t limited to the U.S. — countries like South Korea, Italy, Japan, Spain, France and Canada are facing similarly steep drops in birth rates.