On July 4, 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department launched Trump Accounts, a new savings program for children. The government is offering $1,000 to every eligible child to help build long-term savings, according to Treasury and Social Security Administration announcements.

Here's who qualifies: Your child must be a U.S. citizen born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028. To sign up, go to TrumpAccounts.gov or download the Treasury's mobile app. Once enrolled, your child gets $1,000 from the federal government.

But here's the catch: of the 4 million children who opened accounts, only 1 million actually claimed the $1,000 so far. That's a 25% rate, which means three-quarters of families who signed up haven't finished the steps needed to receive the money. Some families may not have realized they needed to do something extra, or the process may have been confusing.

How the Accounts Work

Think of Trump Accounts as a special savings jar that grows over time and won't be taxed until your child uses the money. The Treasury has chosen a list of low-cost investments for the accounts to hold, detailed in a separate Treasury announcement.

Unlike retirement accounts that lock money away until you're 59½, Trump Accounts are flexible. Your child (or you on their behalf) can withdraw funds for school, a down payment on a house, or other major life expenses, according to Reuters reporting.

Money can come from several places: you, grandparents, friends, your employer, or even your state. The program also accepts stock donations—if you own company shares that have gone up in value, you can put those directly into the account without paying tax on the gains first. That's a useful feature if you have appreciated investments sitting around, according to Treasury guidance.

Some Big Companies Are Getting Involved

Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs announced they will add an extra $1,000 to Trump Accounts opened for their employees' children, per Reuters. That's not a fortune in compensation terms, but it signals that major financial institutions are building the program into their benefits. Other companies may follow.

What Matters Going Forward

The Congressional Research Service published a non-partisan summary of the program, report R48910, flagging questions about how benefits will distribute across income levels and how long the program will last.

The key number to watch is whether that 25% claim rate improves. If most families who sign up actually collect the $1,000 and keep contributing, the math works in their favor. At a 6% annual return over 18 years—a rough estimate based on historical stock market performance—a $1,000 seed grows to about $2,850 before any extra contributions. That's real growth from compounding. But it only happens if the account is actually activated and funded, not just opened and forgotten.