Brief
Treasury to auto‑enroll up to 60 million children in Trump Accounts
Automatic enrollment could add two million new accounts each year, the Treasury said.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The U.S. Treasury Department said on Tuesday that automatic enrollment of children in the government’s Trump Accounts will begin as early as Wednesday, potentially raising the number of participants to over 60 million by the end of 2026.
Previously, parents or guardians had to sign their children up; the new temporary regulations will enroll all eligible children born between 2025 and 2028 with a Social Security number. The Treasury also noted that the change could add about two million new accounts annually.
To date, between 7 million and 8 million children have been signed up. Each account receives a $1,000 government deposit, which can be supplemented by contributions from employers, philanthropists and relatives and is invested in the stock market. Funds remain locked until the child turns 18 and may only be used for qualified expenses such as housing or education.
Philanthropist Michael Dell and his wife Susan have pledged $6.25 billion to supplement accounts for children who do not qualify for the government deposit, though the auto‑enrollment rule does not trigger that contribution. Parents must still opt in via their tax return to receive the additional money.
Engagement remains low among low‑ and moderate‑income families; a report from the nonprofit Commonwealth found only five percent of families earning up to $80,000 have opened an account. Madeline Brown, senior policy associate at the Urban Institute, told CNBC that automatic enrollment would "certainly reach the vast majority of parents and children" but added that "a lot of work" is still needed to build awareness.
Key facts
- Automatic enrollment for Trump Accounts begins as early as Wednesday, September 30, 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- The Treasury expects enrollment to exceed 60 million children by the end of 2026. (independent.co.uk)
- Each account receives a $1,000 government deposit for children born 2025‑2028 with a Social Security number. (independent.co.uk)
- Only about five percent of low‑ and moderate‑income families have opened an account, according to the Commonwealth. (independent.co.uk)
Sources
- [1] independent.co.uk — originally reported as “60 million kids to be auto-enrolled in Trump Accounts”
