The Epoch Times says Trump accounts for children are being activated

Enrollment and basic setup

The Epoch Times reports that more than 60 million American children under 18 had been enrolled in the program as of Oct. 1, 2026. It says the children were enrolled using their Social Security numbers. The article says each child already has an account, and the parent or guardian only needs to activate it. According to the report, the adult becomes the account administrator or custodian for the child.

The article says opening the account is simple and that the government and private investment firms do most of the work. It says the government makes contributions automatically after a parent or guardian confirms that the child qualifies and asks for the contribution.

Contributions from government and private donors

The Epoch Times says the accounts can receive an initial federal contribution of up to $1,250. The article breaks that amount into $1,000 from the federal government and $250 from the Michael Dell family. It says the amount depends on the child’s age. The report says parents, grandparents, friends, corporations, and certain nonprofits can make additional contributions, with a total limit of $5,000 per year across all donors.

According to the article, private contributions are given to the parent or guardian, who deposits the money into their own bank account and then uses an ATM card on a smartphone to transfer the funds into the child’s account. The report says the funds appear on the phone immediately and can also be tracked on a phone or computer at any time.

Account structure and investment rules

The Epoch Times describes the accounts as a special kind of IRA for children. It says the child owns the account, while a parent or another authorized adult manages it until age 18. The article says the money is invested mostly in broad index funds through large investment firms.

The report says withdrawals are not allowed before age 18, and that the parent or custodian cannot take the money for personal use. It says annual expenses are capped at no more than 0.1 percent. The article also says the money grows tax-free, while taxes are due at withdrawal under normal IRA rules.

Growth projections and long-term purpose

The Epoch Times says the plan is based on starting to invest early so the money has decades to grow through market gains and compounding. The article gives examples using assumed returns: at 9 percent annual growth, $1,000 would become $4,939 in 18 years; at 7 percent, it would become $3,380. It also says that over 55 years, $250 a year at 8 percent would grow to $229,000, $1,000 a year to $917,000, and $5,000 a year to $4.31 million. The article notes that actual results could be higher or lower.

The report says the central idea is early, steady investing, and it uses the phrase that “the turtle beats the hare” if it starts early enough.

Eligibility details, political history, and wider claims

The Epoch Times says the $1,000 federal contribution for babies is authorized from 2025 through 2028 and applies to children born on or after Jan. 1, 2025. It says lawmakers would need to vote later to continue those payments after 2028. The article says the $250 Michael Dell family contribution applies to children born between 2016 and 2024, and that Dell contributed $6.25 billion for the donations. It says qualifying children must live in ZIP codes with median family incomes below $150,000 and gives Beaverhead County, Montana, as an example.

The article says Elon Musk announced plans to donate one share of SpaceX stock to each child with a Trump account, which it estimates as about a $10 billion donation. It says Musk called this only the start of his giving. The report also says other billionaires plan major donations.

The Epoch Times says the accounts faced political setbacks before becoming law. It says President George W. Bush tried to create similar accounts but failed to win congressional approval. The article says the legislation passed in 2025 with all Republican votes and no Democratic votes, and that President Donald Trump signed it. It says California Gov. Gavin Newsom has since supported the program.

Reported benefits and a stated concern

The article says supporters see the accounts as a way for children to learn saving, investing, long-term thinking, and how the free market works. It says the accounts also provide businesses with new capital that can support growth, jobs, and wealth-building for younger generations.

The Epoch Times also raises a concern that an 18-year-old may not handle the money responsibly when gaining control of the account. The article says the age is still old enough for driving, military service, and leaving home, and argues that young adults can make poor financial and lifestyle decisions. It says the choice to participate is up to the parent or guardian.