Questions loom over whether children born in U.S. to migrant parents can access Trump Accounts

By Kerry Picket - The Washington Times - Thursday, July 16, 2026

Over 6.5 million American children have been enrolled in the new Trump Accounts investment program since its launch, the White House announced Tuesday.

And the initiative designed to seed children’s financial futures with $1,000 in Treasury funds appears to let kids born to illegal immigrants in the U.S. access the accounts.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told The Washington Times during a press briefing Thursday that all American citizen children can access the Trump Accounts “as it stands right now,” but said she had not discussed the matter directly with President Trump and declined to give a definitive response.

Ms. Leavitt said the White House would work with Congress to “remedy this [birthright citizenship] problem in our country. We cannot have this scam continuing where you have foreigners from all around the world traveling to our country to give birth to babies who are then given the greatest privilege on the face of the earth — American citizenship.”

American children younger than 18 are eligible for the one-time $1,000 government deposit, provided an authorized guardian makes the required election.

The Council of Economic Advisors reported Tuesday that more than 6.5 million American children have been signed up for Trump Accounts since the program launched.

Every U.S. child born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028, can receive the $1,000 seed deposit from the U.S. Treasury.

Ms. Leavitt, who said she enrolled her own children in the initiative, described the program as a “public-private partnership,” citing Michael Dell and other private corporate sponsors as contributors to the fund, to distinguish it from programs based exclusively on taxpayer funds.

Parents, guardians, relatives and friends can contribute up to $5,000 per year combined per child. Employers may contribute up to $2,500 per year, counting toward the annual cap.

Government projections show that a child whose family maxes out contributions could see the account grow to nearly $300,000 by age 18, and funds may be used for college, starting a business or buying a home.