White House's $5K Baby Bonus Sparks Talk on What Parents Really Need

We can all agree that moms definitely deserve a medal for everything they do. And most parents could use a little more financial support. But is a $5,000 baby bonus and a proposed National Medal of Motherhood really the best way to move families forward?

That’s the question circulating after the White House unveiled a set of early-stage proposals aimed at encouraging Americans to have more children. The effort comes as the US grapples with its record-low birth rates. In 2023, the rate dipped to just 1.62 births per woman, far below the 2.1 needed to sustain population growth. Plus, new data shows that in 2024, this number remained largely stagnant, increasing by just 1%.

In response, the Trump administration is exploring policies to “help or convince women to have more babies.” Among the floated ideas: a $5,000 “baby bonus” for new parents, an educational campaign focused on ovulation tracking, and even a symbolic “National Medal of Motherhood” for women who raise six or more children. There are also discussions around tweaking existing government programs, like allocating more Fulbright scholarships to parents.

But while these proposals have sparked attention, they’ve also drawn criticism for prioritizing publicity-friendly perks over proven policy. Many parents and advocates argue that financial incentives and symbolic gestures do little to address the long-term challenges of parenting in America.

Paid Leave for All, a national campaign advocating for paid family and medical leave, responded directly to the proposals, emphasizing that boosting birth rates shouldn’t be the end goal. “The goal should be affording all working families the dignity to support themselves and their loved ones,” they said, adding that what’s actually needed are policies like paid family and medical leave for all working people, along with affordable childcare, education and reproductive freedom.

Echoing that sentiment, MomsRising—an organization that mobilizes moms to advocate for family-friendly policies—pointed out the administration has yet to implement “tried-and-true, proven policies that lift families and our economy.” The group also noted that at the same time these proposals are circulating, policies that protect and support families like Medicaid, SNAP, school meals and even the maternal health hotline are on the chopping block.

The Chamber of Mothers, a modern advocacy collective amplifying the voices of mothers in policy and media, issued a public callout with a message to the administration: “We already have a well-researched plan and are ready to submit it.” Their roadmap is one familiar to many: “Paid family and medical leave. Affordable quality childcare. Improved maternal health.”

Even parenting brands are weighing in. Elvie, known for its maternal health products, highlighted the cost gap by pointing out that “a $5,000 baby bonus sounds cute until you realize pregnancy and birth cost up to $27,000—and 4 in 10 working moms’ insurance doesn’t even cover it.” On the proposed motherhood medal, the brand was equally blunt: “Only 3% of moms have access to mental health support post-birth. They’ve pretty much said, ‘We have no useful support, but here’s a trinket.’”

But perhaps the clearest question comes from Chiyo, a maternal nutrition company focused on holistic care and postpartum recovery. In response to the full proposal, they cut to the heart of the issue: “They’re offering cash prizes, ovulation education, and a ‘National Medal of Motherhood’… But what about the actual reasons people are waiting—or walking away—from parenthood? No federal paid leave. No affordable child care. No universal healthcare.”