Following an automatic enrollment expansion by the Treasury Department, nearly 70 million American children under 18 now have Trump Accounts in their names, pairing federal funds with individual company stock donations and private philanthropic contributions designed to build long-term generational wealth.
President Donald Trump celebrated the program during an Oval Office announcement hosted on October 7, 2026, highlighting the completion of an auto-enrollment process that brought roughly 60 million children into the program alongside 10 million accounts previously opened by parents following the initiative’s July 4 launch.
Parents Must Use App to Claim Auto-Enrolled Accounts
Under new regulations released by the Treasury Department that took effect on October 1, 2026, eligible children who did not already possess an account were automatically enrolled by federal officials. While the rollout establishes an account for nearly every minor with a valid Social Security number, parents or guardians must download the official Trump Accounts app to claim the account, manage investments, and unlock contributions.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that automatic enrollment has made it easier than ever for families to participate and give children a jump-start on the American Dream. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers noted that the automatic setup ensures eligible individuals do not lose out on investment growth simply because an adult failed to complete a registration form. Treasury guidelines note that the special growth period lasts until December 31 of the year prior to when the beneficiary turns 18, after which traditional IRA rules apply.
Federal officials confirmed that an estimated 80 percent of the accounts are linked to families earning less than $200,000 annually.
Federal Seed Money Targets Children Born 2025 to 2028
The program combines federal seed money, family savings, employer contributions, and private philanthropy, though eligibility requirements differ significantly across funding streams. The federal government’s one-time $1,000 pilot contribution is restricted exclusively to U.S. citizen children born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028. Children born outside that birth window do not receive the Treasury payment, but remain eligible for family and philanthropic deposits.
Private backing for the initiative has expanded substantially. Dell Technologies founder Michael Dell and his wife, Susan Dell, pledged a $6.25 billion contribution to fund accounts for millions of children, focusing on births from 2016 through 2024 who fall outside the federal birth window. Additionally, it was announced that shares of SpaceX would be donated to more than two million accounts.
Annual Contributions Face $5,000 Aggregate Limit
Ordinary contributions during the childhood growth period are subject to an aggregate limit of $5,000 per year per child. Within that overall cap, family and friends may contribute up to $5,000 annually without receiving a tax deduction, while employers can make pre-tax contributions up to $2,500 per year per employee.
“For decades, we’ve talked about how to teach young Americans the value of saving, investing, and building wealth. Trump Accounts actually gives them the tools to do it.”
Senator Ted Cruz, via Newsweek
Strict rules govern access to the funds. Withdrawals are prohibited until the beneficiary turns 18, meaning balances cannot be tapped for ordinary household emergencies.
When beneficiaries reach age 18, the accrued funds become available to help cover education costs, purchase a home, or start a business, marking the transition from a restricted childhood vehicle into a traditional retirement framework managed by the individual participant.